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I 




GENERAL JOSEPH BLOOMFIELD 



BLOOMFIELD 

OLD AND NEW 



AN HISTORICAL SYMPOSIUM 

BY 

SEVERAL AUTHORS 



EDITED BY 

JOSEPH FULFORD FOLSOM 



PUBLISHED BY THE 

CENTENNIAL HISTORICAL COMMITTEE 

BLOOMFIELD, N. J. 

1912 



r/ff 



7?' 



•J3 



Copyright, 1912, 
Br Bloomtieu) Centennial Historical CoMMirrEE. 



/7/- 



©CI.A343840 



CONTENTS 

Page 

FOEEWORD »y 

The Beginnings. Joseph F. Folsom ... 11 

The "1776" Period. Joseph F. Folsom . . 32 

After the Revolution. Joseph F. Folsom . 43 

Incorporation and Subsequent Government. 

Raymond F. Davis qq 

The Schools and Schoolmasters. William 

A. Baldwin "rg 

Transportation. Charles C. Ferguson . . 101 

The History of the Churches. George Louis 

Curtis jjg 

Municipal Development. William P. Sutphen 140 

The Annals of Stone House Plains (Brook- 
dale). James E. Brooks Ig2 

An Afternoon Walk. Maud Parsons . . . 180 

APPENDICES 

Board of Trade Resolution 184 

Act of Incorporation (1812) 186 

Centennial Celebration and Committee . 188 

Sub-Committees of the Centennial Celebra- 
tion 189 

Index jgj 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Geneeal Joseph Bloomfield, Former Gov- 
ernor OF New Jersey .... Frontispiece 

Facing Page 



Daniel Dodd House (1719) .... 

Thomas Cadmus House 

Joseph Davis House 

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1912) 

Madame Cooke's School (1856) 

Bloomfield High School (1912) 

Presbyterian Church, Lecture Room 
Stone Schoolhouse (1840) 



Along the Yantecaw or Third River 
Jarvie Memorial Library . . . . 
The "Stone House" of the "Plains" 
Map of Bloomfield in 1830 . . . . 



and 



18 

40/ 
48 ^ 
68^ 

84 
98 

120 ^ 
140 '' 

167^ 
168^ 
184 



FOREWORD 

This book, though brief, adds many facts about 
Bloomfield hitherto unpubHshed. It also brings together 
much scattered material previously printed. Of neces- 
sity, because of time and space limitations, it leaves out 
many good things already in book form. It is a con- 
tribution to the materials for a history of the town. 

This historical sketch very strikingly differs from 
previous ventures. It is a symposium of narratives by 
different authors to whom special departments were as- 
signed. What it lacks in unity it makes up in data. It 
is a compendium of annals rather than an essay in his- 
tory. For the sake of future historical accuracy the 
names of the authors are prefixed to the respective 
articles. 

The idea of preparing this volume originated in the 
Historical Committee appointed by the Executive Com- 
mittee of the Bloomfield Board of Trade, the latter 
committee having been created to arrange for the cele- 
brating of the centennial anniversary^ of the incorpora- 
tion in 1812 of Bloomfield. The Historical Committee 
was constituted as follows: Benjamin Haskell, Chair- 
man, William A. Baldwin, Secretary, Charles C. Fergu- 
son, Rev. George L. Curtis, D.D., Rev. Joseph F. Fol- 
som, William P. Sutphen and Raymond F. Davis. The 
purpose in view was a souvenir that might have histori- 
cal value, and also help to conserve the spirit and senti- 
ment of the celebration. 

jNIany things that ought to be said are of necessity 
omitted. Every political, mihtary, social and benevolent 

7 



8 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

organization might furnish materials for a long chap- 
ter, but to find the room has been impossible. Much 
material of this kind appears in the souvenir publica- 
tion of the Executive Committee, and more, let us hope, 
will appear when in the course of time the next history 
of Bloomfield shall go to press. 

Those who have prepared the articles desire to ac- 
knowledge their indebtedness to previous compilers of 
material on Bloomfield, and to the many interested 
friends who have furnished information and sugges- 
tion. Previous books and general sketches on Bloom- 
field, all of which have been directly or indirectly help- 
ful, are listed as follows: 

"Plea for the Old Foundations," by Rev. James M. 
Sherwood, an historical sermon on the "Old First" 
Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield, with an appendix 
by Rev. Stephen Dodd, published by M. W. Dodd, New 
York, 1854. 

"The Church on the Green," by Rev. Charles E. 
Knox, D.D., an historical sermon on the "Old First," 
delivered in 1896, in connection with its centennial cele- 
bration, and published by Stephen Morris Hulin, Bloom- 
field, 1901. 

"Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Baptist Church, 
Bloomfield, N. J.," compiled by David G. Garabrant, 
an account of the exercises and the historical addresses 
delivered in 1901 on that occasion, and printed later by 
the Avil Printing Company, Philadelphia. 

"Real and Ideal Bloomfield," by Stephen Morris 
Hulin, a copiously illustrated volume telling the story 
of "Church-Town, Township and Incorporated Town 
of To-day," published at Bloomfield, printed by Groebe- 
McGovem Co., Newark, 1902. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 9 

"Bloomfield Township," by Rev. Charles E. Knox, an 
article in Shaw's "History of Essex and Hudson Coun- 
ties," published in two volumes by Everts and Peck, 
Philadelphia, 1884. 

Four manuals, or directories, of the "Old First" 
church have been published, and each, with the exception 
of that dated 1889, contains an historical sketch of the 
town and church. The dates of these publications are 
1835, 1860, 1889 and 1906. The last mentioned of 
these pamphlets contains an excellent sketch of the in- 
ception and organization of the church during the years 
1794 to 1800. It was carefully prepared by Hon. 
Amzi Dodd, and is the best account extant of that in- 
teresting ecclesiastical period. 

There have been many other sources ; literary, docu- 
mentary, and word of mouth. Some of the Revolution- 
ary and other stories have appeared previously in va- 
rious articles prepared by the editor of this book some 
years ago for the Newark Evening News, one of which, 
under the caption "Historic Bloomfield," was reprinted 
in the Bloomfield Citizen, on September 1, 1900. 

The compiler of the chapter on schools expresses in- 
debtedness to William E. Chancellor, formerly the su- 
perintendent of the local schools, and the compiler of 
the annals of Stone House Plains, to William Nelson 
of Paterson, and Lewis Cockefair of Bloomfield. Mr. 
Nelson's unpublished "History of Paterson and Pas- 
saic County," and the reminiscences of Mr. Cockefair 
were especially helpful. 

The compiler of the sketches of the churches desires 
to thank also the various pastors for their kindness in 
providing the required materials. 

Two other names must here be included, those of the 



10 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

late John Oakes, and his still living friend, Mark W. 
Ball, of Newark. Many facts years ago furnished by 
Mr. Oakes to the writer of this foreword have been 
added to the various articles, particularly to those of 
the Revolutionary and the early nineteenth century 
period. The inserted map of Bloomfield in the year 
1830, inscribed with the names of the residents of that 
period, was originally drafted by Mr. Oakes, and 
through the courtesy of John F. Capen prepared for 
this volume. Mr. Ball at the age of ninety-three is still 
clear in mind, and his reminiscences have been of much 
value. 

Whatever the limitations and defects of this latest 
contribution to local annals, they cannot lessen our love 
and respect for the old town and the new town whose 
centennial we unite to celebrate. We may take upon 
our lips the lines of the poet Henry Kirke White, writ- 
ten to celebrate the fame of a brother poet, and apply 
them with equal homage to our town of the same name : 

"Bloomfield, thy happy-omen'd name 
Ensures continuance to thy fame ; 
Both sense and truth this verdict give. 

While fields shall bloom, thy name shall live." 

J. F. F. 

May, 1912. 



THE BEGINNINGS 

By Joseph F. Folsom 

About the year 1700 a sturdy race of people began 
to settle the region now called Bloomfield. The lay of 
the land was inviting. Here was a fertile plain covered 
with virgin forests and flanked by tillable uplands. Two 
small rivers, by name Second and Third, watered the 
region and gave promise of numerous mill sites. To 
clear the land, saw the timber, and break the soil was an 
attractive task. It suited well the type of men who 
undertook it. These founders labored in hope. They 
worked for not only themselves but for their descend- 
ants. They were not quitters. They came to stay. 

These first settlers were mostly young men. They 
were the sons and the grandsons of the Connecticut men 
who, in 1666 and the years following, had landed on 
the bank of the Passaic River and founded the town 
of Newark. The boundaries of Newark extended from 
Elizabeth on the south to Acquackanonk on the north, 
with the Passaic River on one side and the Watchung 
Mountain on the other. The region destined to become 
Bloomfield was the northern section of the tract. For 
some years it lay for the most part an unbroken wilder- 
ness. The original Newark men knew that these out- 
lands were securely in their possession. They had 
enough on their hands developing the section near their 
home lots by the river. Their heirs and descendants 
might occupy the outlands in due time. Their immediate 
task was big enough for one lifetime. They willingly 
left further conquests to the younger men. 

11 



12 BLOOINIFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

The older men, however, did not leave the future 
settling of these outlands wholly to chance. There were 
many who Avith prudence and foresight reached out and 
secured individual possession of tracts of land they in- 
tended never personally to occupy. They might cut off 
the timber, and erect saw mills, or they might use avail- 
able spaces for grazing their cattle ; but age and com- 
munity instincts held them to the village life by the 
Passaic. When in time their six-acre lots became in- 
adequate to support their growing families, their sons 
struck out to make homes for themselves in the wilder- 
ness. The grants in this region obtained by the older 
men thus detennined to a great extent who should be the 
future inhabitants of Bloomfield. The same principle, 
of course, operated in other outlying sections. 

Another cause to have delayed somewhat the settling 
of this region was the vague fear of Indians which 
naturally clung to the earl}^ settlers. Long after New- 
ark was settled the inhabitants kept watch and ward 
against possible attack. As late as 1689 a committee 
of safety was appointed by the town. This fear had 
no reference to the nearby remnants of savage tribes, 
but to possible incursions of warriors from beyond the 
Delaware. The Hackensack Indians, from whom the 
Newark men purchased their township, were a feeble 
remnant. They had once been troublesome, but on Feb- 
ruary 25, 1643, the Dutch of Manhattan had crossed 
the Hudson and cruelly massacred Indian men, women 
and children at Pavonia. Eighty souls were that bloody 
night set free by the command of Governor William 
Kieft, so that David De Vries, w^aiting in the governor's 
house in New Amsterdam, heard the shooting and the 
wailing on the New Jersey side, and called it butchery. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 13 

All this took place a quarter of a century before New- 
ark was settled. 

The ancestors of the young men who settled Bloom- 
field came from Connecticut. The first group to reach 
the Passaic came from the town of Milford. Then 
followed the Branford people, and later others from 
Guilford and New Haven. They were a sturdy lot of 
men and women, who had known privation and difficult 
enterprises. They had been in Indian wars, and some 
of the Branford group had, in 1640, attempted to 
form a settlement at Southampton on Long Island, but 
had abandoned the project and returned to Connecticut. 
When the opportunity to establish a new home in New 
Jersey presented itself they again bravely packed their 
goods and emigrated. Their reasons for desiring a 
change were mainly religious, though the economic ele- 
ment was not wholly absent. The Newark settlers gen- 
erally desired a community in which full citizenship 
should be granted only to members of the church, and 
such communities had ceased to exist in the New Haven 
Colony. The Newark settlement has been characterized 
as the last attempt on the American continent to estab- 
lish a theocracy. The principle was doubtless narrow, 
and could not operate permanently, but the men who 
held it had broad brains and plenty of backbone. They 
were capable of widening their intellectual horizon. 

It is important to know who among this band of early 
settlers took up lands in the section now Bloomfield. 
Such knowledge, as far as it goes, helps us to under- 
stand why certain families increased in this region. In 
this matter we shall not consider the early settlers of 
Belleville, once a part of Bloomfield, or generally of 
Montclair, once West Bloomfield. Also we shall pass 



14 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

over the founders of Stone House Plains, for the reason 
tliat they will be fully considered in a later chapter. 

The Crane family, which peopled the locality called 
Cranetown, and later West Bloomfield and Montclair, 
cannot be passed over. Members of this stock during 
almost two centuries were influential in the affairs of 
Bloomfield. Their common ancestor was Jasper Crane 
of Newark. Next to Captain Robert Treat he was the 
leading figure of the colony. He was a Branford man, 
and his name stands first on the list of those who signed 
the two fundamental agreements underlying the Newark 
government, namely church membership in order to full 
citizenship, and diligent maintenance of the religion 
professed in the Congregational church. Jasper Crane 
was an inveterate emigrant. He was one of the found- 
ers of the New Haven Colony in 1639. He probably 
was among the number who settled Branford in 161*4. 
He made plans in 1651 to establish a colony on the 
Delaware River, but was prevented by the Dutch. He 
came to Newark in the fall of 1666, and in 1675, among 
other scattered properties, he secured twenty acres "at 
the head of a branch of the Second River." This tract 
was doubtless near the center of the present INIontclair. 
Jasper died in 1681, and his will, drawn in 1678, men- 
tions his children as John, Azariah, Jasper and Hannah. 
Azariah was living "at the Mountain" as early as 1715, 
and it is thought that he and his brother Jasper were 
the first settlers of that part of Bloomfield. One of the 
descendants of Azariah was Major Nathaniel Crane, 
who gave to the Bloomfield church its first bell, strong- 
toned enough to be heard to the mountain. He gave 
generously toward building the Bloomfield Academy in 
1810, and left a fund for the education of young men 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 15 

for the ministry which is still in use. Among the five 

Cranes who gave liberally toward the erection of the 

Bloomfield "Old First" Church and the thirteen of that 

stock who were charter members, was Israel Crane, the | 

famous road-builder. He was interested in many social, 

religious, commercial and philanthropic movements in 

Bloomfield. 

The settlement of that part of Bloomfield formerly 
called Watsesson Plain, including the whole section from 
Watsesson Hill to the Morris Neighborhood, was begun 
by the Baldwin, Davis, Dodd, Morris and Ward families. 
Taking as a guide the "Old Road," said to have been 
an ancient Indian trail to the interior, we find along the 
route, even as late as 1800, quite well-defined areas in 
which these early families had become fixed. The earliest 
Baldwin property lay between the "Old Road" and the 
Second River, and on the eastern slope of Watsesson 
Hill. Then came the Dodd tracts, running east and 
west of the road, along the course of the Second River. 
The Dodd influence extended to Doddtown. To the west 
of the road, and embracing what is now the business 
center of Bloomfield, was next the Ward area, running 
at least as far as Toney's Brook. East of the road, 
and opposite the Ward tract, was the Davis property, 
extending from the present Montgomery Street to Belle- 
ville Avenue, formerly including the Green and! the 
church and the school properties. Above Belleville Ave- 
nue, on both sides of the road, was more of the Baldwin 
influence, running up to the Morris area. The Morris 
influence was along the Yanticaw, or Third River, in the 
neighborhood of Bay Lane. 

Benjamin Baldwin, the weaver, was the founder an- 
cestor of most of the Baldwins of Bloomfield. He came 



16 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

from Milford, Connecticut, and was in Newark in the 
fall of 1666, a young man aged twenty-six years. There 
was given him a home lot in Newark, located west of the 
present Washington Avenue, near Warren Street. He 
took up land between the Second and Third rivers, and 
north of the highway leading over Watsesson Hill. 
Among his descendants was David Baldwin, born about 
1715, from whom most of the family who located near 
the Third River and Morris Neighborhood are descended. 
When David was eighty-five years old he could still 
drive his team to a swamp by the river and bring home 
a load of wood. David and his sons owned three mill 
sites on Third River, and most of the farms between 
the church and Morris Neighborhood. He was a charter 
member of the old church, and his wife and eight chil- 
dren had the same honor. The children were Zophar, 
David, Silas, Jesse, Ichabod, Eunice, Sarah, and Simeon. 
Jesse was a quartermaster in the Continental Army. It 
was Simeon who opposed the project to build a frame 
church, and vigorously declared for a permanent struc- 
ture of stone. He operated a grist and fulling mill. 
He died September 7, 1806. Caleb Dodd Baldwin, a 
grandson of David, enlisted at the age of seventeen 
years — in the War of 1812. He prepared for Princeton 
but did not enter. He later was in partnership with 
Ira Dodd, and the firm constructed at the old mill site 
near Bay Lane the mechanical parts for the Morris 
Canal. They built the stone aqueduct carrying the 
canal over the Passaic River at Little Falls, and also the 
Morris and Essex Railroad from Newark to Summit. 
Warren S. Baldwin, another great-grandson of David, 
was a well-known merchant and public man in Bloom- 
field. He was frequently a member of the Township 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 17 

Committee from 1851 to 1871, and aided in securing the 
State School Law of 1849. The Baldwin line to David 
and his large family runs as follows: Joseph, Benjamin, 
Benjamin, David. 

Daniel Dodd of Newark was the ancestor of the 
Dodds of Bloomfield and Doddtown, East Orange. He 
came from Branford about 1668. He was appointed in 
March, 1678, with Edward Ball, to run the northern 
line of the town from the Passaic to the First Mountain. 
The land looked fair to the young man, and he soon 
thereafter surveyed a tract upon Watsesson Plain, in 
the valley of the Second River. The Elizabeth Town 
Bill in Chancery states the fact of his having secured 
this land. In January 18, 1697, this property and much 
more in various localities was confirmed to him by the 
East Jersey proprietors. He was chosen a deputy to 
the Provincial Assembly in 1692. His children, Daniel, 
Stephen, John and Dorcas, are said to have established 
homes on various tracts of the Watsesson grant. It was 
a grandson, Daniel, who with his wife Sarah built the 
well-known Dodd house at the corner of the present 
Franklin and Race streets in Bloomfield. The inscrip- 
tion on the corner-stone reads as follows: "D. S. D. 
Noum. 10 1719." The initials stand for "Daniel (and) 
Sarah Dodd." The couple held possession of their home- 
stead in Newark, on the present Orange Street, until 
September 16, 1735, when they sold it to Thomas Davis 
for one hundred pounds. Daniel died in 1767, his wife 
having preceded him several years. During the Revo- 
lutionary War his son Daniel occupied the Bloomfield 
house, and later it came into the possession of Amos 
Dodd, who dwelt there until after 1830, as the Oakes 
map in this volume will show. The descendants of 



18 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Daniel Dodd are numerous. Moses Dodd, whose home- 
stead in 1776 was near Toney's Brook, and Deacon 
Isaac Dodd, one of the first deacons of the Bloomfield 
Presbyterian Church, who Hved between the present 
Park Street and Park Avenue, were descendants. Gen- 
eral John Dodd, the village surs^ej^or, who was succeeded 
by Joseph K. Oakes, and who lived in a brick house at 
the southwest corner of the Turnpike and Washington 
Avenue, was another of the family. His son. Dr. Joseph 
S. Dodd, whose house still stands on the high terrace 
opposite the Glen Ridge school, at Ridgewood and 
Bloomfield avenues, was the father of former Vice-Chan- 
cellor Amzi Dodd, honorary chairman of the Executive 
Committee of the present (1912) centennial. 

Stephen Davis of the Milford group was the Davis 
ancestor. No record appears concerning any grant 
to him of land in Bloomfield. There are many records 
showing that Thomas Davis, his son, had acquired a 
number of tracts in this neighborhood near the Second 
and Third rivers previous to 1700. A deed in the pos- 
session of the Davis family of Bloomfield, dated Novem- 
ber 7, 1711, in the reign of Queen Anne, conveys 111 
acres in the Eastern Division of New Jersey from 
Thomas Wall of Middletown, Monmouth County, to 
Thomas Davis of Newark. Which descendant of 
Stephen Davis was the first to make his home on Watses- 
son Plain we are unable to state. Caleb, the father of 
Deacon Joseph Davis, died in 1783, aged sixty-six years, 
and his wife, Ruth, in 1793. The fine stone house 
occupied by Joseph Davis is still standing. It is located 
on Franklin Street, opposite the Baptist church. There 
the preliminary meetings to form the Presbyterian 
organization were held previous to 1800. There Gen- 




DANIEL DODD HOUSE (1719) 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 19 

eral Joseph Bloomfield and his wife were entertained 
at the time of their memorable visit in 1797. According 
to Dr. Charles E. Knox, in his article in Shaw's "His- 
tory of Essex and Hudson Counties," a Thomas Davis 
gave land for a school-house "near the house of Cap- 
tain John Ogden" on Franklin Street, near the present 
Montgomery Street, sometime before 1780, and this, he 
stated, was afterward exchanged by Caleb and Joseph 
Davis for the present school property near the First 
church. 

The Davis line in Bloomfield appears to run as fol- 
lows: Stephen, the founder, died in 1691. His sons 
were John, Thomas and Jonathan. Thomas (2), who 
was born in 1660 and died January 26, 1738, acquired 
much land in different parts of Essex County, and one 
of his deeds for property further away has been men- 
tioned. He had seven children: Thomas, Jonathan, 
Stephen, James, Apphia, Sarah Ball, and Mary. From 
Thomas (3) descended James (4), whose will in 1748 
mentions Thomas (4), who died in Bloomfield in 1780, 
and four daughters. It is this Thomas who gave the 
lot for the school. From Jonathan (3), who died in 
1690, descended Caleb (4), born 1717 and died in 
Bloomfield 1783; and Deacon Joseph (5), born 1753, 
died June 5, 1827. The children of Deacon Joseph 
were Caleb, Charles, Joseph Austin, Henrietta, Abigail, 
Martha and Mary. Henrietta was the last of children 
to occupy the old homestead, and later a grandson, 
Charles M., the son of Caleb (6), resided there. Joseph 
Austin was the well-known physician, who is still re- 
membered by hundreds of his former patients. Another 
line comes from Moses Davis, sons of whom were John, 
Joseph and Henry. 



20 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

John Ward, called the "dishturner," and more fre- 
quently "turner," was the founder ancestor of the Wards 
of Watsesson Plain. He came to Newark in 1666 with 
the Branford group. His uncle Lawrence, the first of 
the settlers to be mentioned as deacon, also came at that 
time, but died cliildless four years later. Elizabeth, 
widow of Lawrence, owned land here in 1675. John, 
the turner, in 1675 had confirmed to him by the East 
Jersey Proprietors, forty-four acres beyond Second 
River, bounded on the north by property owned by his 
aunt, Elizabeth. Upon this land, now the center of 
Bloomfield, the descendants of John in time settled. 
Who was the first to clear the woods and build a house 
cannot be stated. Nathaniel, the son of John, owned 
property here in 1697. About 1795 Washington Ave- 
nue was called "Samuel Ward's lane." When in 1806 
the turnpike was built, Samuel L. Ward, born 1748, 
died 1814, opened through his farm what is now a part 
of Broad Street. It made a short cut from the center 
to the Green and church. The building of the turn- 
pike and the opening of this street determined the loca- 
tion of the business center of the town. The character- 
istic names of the Wards have been John, Josiah, 
Nathaniel, Lawrence, Jacob, Caleb, Matthias, and 
Samuel, all coming from the early settlers. 

Jacob Ward, who died aged 73, on September 27, 
1811, kept the public house on the point opposite the 
old Academy, now the German Theological Seminary. 
In this tavern the elections were held before Bloomfield 
separated from Newark. The Bloomfield elections 
were held there subsequently. The building was re- 
moved to its present location on Franklin Street when 
William K. Peters built the house now on the point. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 21 

Jacob was a brother of the Samuel who opened Broad 
Street. Caleb, a son of Jacob, was an artist. Caleb's 
sons Charles V. and Jacob C. were among the first in 
New Jersey to engage in daguerreotyping. Jacob C. 
was an artist whose pictures were frequently exhibited 
in New York, and were widely reproduced in steel en- 
gravings to illustrate the popular annuals, or gift 
books, of the nineteenth centurj". 

The Ward line from John the "turner" to Jacob and 
Samuel appears to be as follows: John (1) will, 1684; 
Josiad (2) will, 1713; Lawrence, born 1710, died April 
4, 1793 ; and the sons named in his will, made in 1776, 
■were Samuel, Jacob, Jonathan, Stephen and Cornelius. 
The father, Lawrence, and his two sons, Jacob and 
Stephen, made claims for damages bv the British in 
1776. 

Thomas Morris, whose name appears among the ^lil- 
ford group at Newark in 1666, was the forefather of 
the Morris family of Bloomfield. He died at New Haven 
in 1673, and it is possible that the original records read 
"John" instead of "Thomas," and that Thomas never 
left Connecticut. John (2) and his wife Elizabeth, 
said in 1668 to have been "late of New Haven," had 
two sons, John and Philip. The father, John (2), died 
about 1675. John (3), born the year Newark was 
settled, was the actual founder of the family, his 
brother Philip having had no children. He is called 
*'Captain" in the records and arose from "sergeant." 
John cleared the land and settled personally on the 
tract to be later called the Morris Neighborhood. He 
"was at one time sheriff of Essex County. He lived to the 
ripe age of eighty-three years, and saw great develop- 
ments in this region. His deed from the Proprietors of 



22 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

East Jersey for this tract and others in detail has been 
preserved by his descendants, and is one of the exhibits 
at the present centennial. The document in part reads 
as follows: 

"This indenture made the twentie fifth day January 
Anno Doni ; one Thousand six hundred and ninetie five, 
and in the seaventh j'eare of the reigne of William the 
Third over England ye King, between the Proprietors 
of the Province of East New Jersey of the one part, 
and John ^Morris of Newark, in the Countye of Essex, 
Yeoman, of the other, — First, A Plot of Land one the 
East side of the Third River, Beginning at a chestnutt 
tree markt on foure sides, by the river side, thence run- 
ning east twenty chains in breadth to a Hill, thence 
South fouretie five chains in Lenghth as the river runs, 
Also a tract on the first Branch of the Second River, 
Beginning at a white Oake markt on four sides, thence 
East fifteen chaines to another markt tree, thence South 
Soutli west eight chaines as the swamp runs to another 
markt tree thence west f — y chaines to the white oake 
markt as above, thence to where it began, bounded east 
by land unsurveycd, south by the highway, west by John 
Pridden, North by Thomas Davis." 

This indenture bears the signatures of Governor 
Andrew Hamilton, whose first term, in which he was 
governor of both East and West Jersey, ran from 1692 
to 1697, and by five members of his council — Samuel 
Dennis, David Mudie, James Dundas, John Bishop and 
Isaac Kingsland. Hamilton was also the first Post- 
master-General of America, serving from 1693 to 1703. 

Thus ran the old deeds, or patents, conveying to 
settlers lands marked out by lines from tree to tree, and 
following tlie fitful windings of the streams. Frequently 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 23 

the tracts thus obtained lay in the midst of unsurvejed 
land. 

John Morris (3) testified in the land controversies 
about 1740 that he had occupied his lands for many 
years, showing that he personally settled on his planta- 
tion near Third River. His sons were Stephen (4), 
who was born in 1706, and died in 1781 ; and John, Jr., 
whose will is dated 1729. Ephraim (5), the son of 
Stephen, married Joanna Davis, and his son Stephen (6) 
married in 1799 Catharine Smith. Their children were 
Ephraim (7), Jacob, James, Joseph, Mary, Emeline 
Hulin and Albert. Ephraim (7), born August 27, 
1800, invented the incline planes in use on the Morris 
Canal, and was the original partner in the Morris and 
Cummings Dredging Company. His son Augustus T. 
succeeded him. Other children were Mary Collins, John, 
Stephen S. and Charles. The Morris-Haskell house, 
on Morris Place, remodeled somewhat by Benjamin 
Haskell, was the home of Jacob Morris (7), the son of 
Stephen (6). Two dooi's north is the Stephen Morris (6) 
house, occupied by the daughters of Ephraim's (7) sis- 
ter, Emeline Hulin. Ephraim (5) was "Deacon Grumbo 
the INIiller" in Wilson's humorous poem. 

The foregoing were the families, briefly sketched, 
which beffan the settling; of Bloomfield. There were 
others who followed them ; among them the Balls and 
the Cadmuses, but they came later. The Balls were 
descendants of Edward Ball, of Branford, one of the 
prominent men in the Newark settlement. One of his 
descendants was Joseph of Bloomfield. One of Joseph's 
sons was Isaac, buried December 25, 1825, the father of 
Mark Washington Ball of Newark, now aged ninety- 
three years. Isaac gave the first five acres of the present 



24 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Bloomfield Cemetery to the Presbyterian Society about 
1796. The Cadmus line in this region begins with 
Thomas, bom May 7, 1707, who came from Bergen 
(Jersey City) to Second River (Belleville), and married 
there Cornelia Jeralemon on June 30, 1733. His son 
Thomas, the "Colonel," who was the builder of the old 
stone house on Washington Street, married at Second 
River, on June 29, 1760, Pietertie Cadmus, and they 
probably built their new house in Bloomfield soon after 
marriage, or at least within the first ten years. Colonel 
Cadmus was born January 16, 1736, and died 1821. 
He was the head of the Bloomfield military company 
that paraded at the reception in 1797 to General Bloom- 
field. He is mentioned by Stephen Dodd as having taken 
part in the ceremonies at the laying of the water table 
around the old church in 1797. His children were 
Elizabeth, bom April 9, 1761 ; John, born April 8, 
1763; Gitty, bom August 26, 1765; Cornelia, bom 
July 17, 1767, died September 15, 1802; Abraham, 
born May 15, 1770; Thomas, born July 20, 1772, 
married November 29, 1794, died June 9, 1826; 
Herman, born December 7, 1774, married December 3, 
1798, died March 5, 1869; Abraham, bom March 24, 
1777, married November 29, 1794; Peter, born March 
26, 1778; Maria, born October 26, 1780; Gitty, born 
July 10, 1783, died March 2, 1861, mother of Thomas 
Taylor. 

A true picture of the life lived by these forefathers 
of the hamlets along Watsesson Plain would be greatly 
appreciated if such could be portrayed. We can for the 
most go only by analogy. It was a settlement built 
mostly on one long road. This highway, though at 
first a wood road, as appears from the Morris deed, 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 25 

must have run as far as Stone House Plains long previ- 
ous to 1695. 

Here and there along its course stood later a log 
house or frame Flemish cottage, facing almost invari- 
ably south, with such barns and outhouses as the owner 
needed or could afford. Before 1750 these houses were 
not many, and even after the Revolutionary War there 
were only about thirty between Watsesson Hill and the 
Morris Neighborhood. 

At first they took their grist to the older mills below 
Second River, or possibly to Wigwam Brook, beyond 
Doddtown, Orange. When the growth of population 
and produce warranted mills in the neighborhood, such 
were built. John Morris built a saw mill in 1702, and 
he or his son Stephen, probably soon after, erected a 
grist mill. 

Previous to the Revolution began the era of stone 
houses. The local quarries yielded a very durable free- 
stone. Some of these Flemish brownstone houses still 
remain as quaint and picturesque features of the town, 
but most of them have been allowed to decay. The 
Thomas Cadmus house on Washington Street is a fine 
specimen of the larger type. It was probably built 
some ten years before the Revolution. The old Morta 
Winne house on the Newtown road was also a good speci- 
men, and was dated 1766 in iron numerals. The Joseph 
Davis house on Franklin Street was another stone edi- 
fice of that early period. 

The roads of the neighborhood were few. The road 
to Cranetown was the present Park Avenue, and the 
road to Newtown and Second River was Belleville Ave- 
nue. Another road to Cranetown led westward from the 
Morris grist mill to Cranetown. Washington Avenue 



m BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

was then Samuel Ward's Lane, and ran westward till it 
reached the Valley Road in Orange. 

It must be remembered that westward there had been 
made earlier settlements than those at Bloomfield, but 
they were not many, and the settlers who went to Orange, 
Cranetown and Speertown preceded the Bloomfielders 
by but a few years at the most. 

There is a distinction to be noted between the Dutch, 
who came in to the northern end of the town, and the 
English from Newark. The Dutch had no dread of 
loneliness, and probably were settled on their solitary 
clearings earlier than the Newarkers, who were more 
attached to the village life. Doubtless the settling by 
the Newark families had been more gradual. Probably 
the land was very graduall3^ cleared, the woods cut, and 
the buildings erected while the owners still clung to their 
homesteads near the Passaic. As late as 1740 they still 
kept up the common fence of that town, and there was 
still talk about Indian attacks. From time to time some 
family would move out and occupy their plantation be- 
yond the Second River. 

Sometime after the discovery of copper in 1719 on 
the Arent Schuyler property, in the present Arlington, 
there seems to have been an attempt to mine copper 
within the territory of Watsesson Plain. There is a 
record made on December 18, 1735, in the town records 
of Newark of a vote to allow mining for copper on the 
"common lands" of the township, and that action may 
have had reference to this neighborhood. Anyway there 
was later extensive copper mining undertaken in Chest- 
nut Hill west of the village, and just south of the 
cemcter}'. Some years ago while quarrying out the 
abundant freestone found at the corner of Bloomfield 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 27 

and Hillside avenues, the workmen came upon a great 
drift of this ancient mine. Some of the discarded tools 
of the workmen were discovered. The vertical shaft was 
northward toward the cemetery, and it was thought the 
drift had originally run as far as Toney's brook nearby. 

When and by whose enterprise these mines were so 
painstakingly hollowed out and shored up with great 
timbers, no one seems able to state. The only docu- 
mentary reference to them of an early date is that of 
the schoolmaster, Alexander Wilson, who wrote on Au- 
gust 7, 1801, to his friend, Charles Orr, at Milestown 
that "There is a copper mine about 300 yards from 
my school-house which was lately wrought and many 
tons of ore obtained from it. It is now neglected." It 
is possible that these mines were opened by the New 
Jersey Copper Mine Association, organized about 1793 
by Jacob Mark, Philip A. Schuyler and Nicholas I. 
Roosevelt and others. 

During the eighteenth century the inhabitants of the 
Watsesson region were not altogether in a state of 
peace and quiet. In 1745 and 1746 occurred the famous 
Newark riots, which caused widespread excitement, not 
to mention voluminous reports and papers sent home by 
the authorities to England. Watsesson Plain was near 
the front in these troubles. Many of the rioters came 
from this locality and some were men of honored families. 
The rioters passed through the neighborhood on their 
way to Newark from Horse Neck, Cranetown, and Stone 
House Plain. They were a determined lot of folks, 
and they meant business, however vulnerable may have 
been their cause legally. 

An examination of the documentary material touching 
the riots brings out the following particulars. 



28 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

When the first settlers arrived at Newark they were 
encouraged by the Proprietors, and especially by Car- 
teret, to purchase their lands in fair dealings from the 
Indians. This the3' did, and it has always been a matter 
of pride that the English settlers of Jersey knew no 
Indian massacres or wars. 

After gradually taking up much of the land, as we 
have seen, on this side of the First Mountain, they, or 
their descendants, began to cast longing eyes toward the 
rich timber and meadow lands westward to the Passaic 
River. The broad acres called to-da^^ "The Great 
Piece" and "Little Piece" meadows, lying each side of 
the Passaic River, and consisting of miles of hay land, 
were especially valuable to the settlers. Forests covered 
the high ground and on the lowlands nature had spread 
a table of rich grass to be had for the cutting, and every 
spring the river inundated the meadows and prepared 
the fertile soil for another crop. These desirable bot- 
tom lands, it was alleged, were bought from the Indians, 
and when the Proprietors later disposed of them to 
others it made those who occupied them feel like fight- 
ing. In a statement of their case a committee of so- 
called rioters of Essex County explicitly say that Horse 
Neck, together with other places under consideration, 
was purchased before the passing of the act of 1703, 
which forbids thenceforth any individual purchases of 
land from the "heathen" without the sanction of the 
crown proprietors. The date of that transaction was 
September 3, 1701. 

Unfortunately for the settlers, their Indian deed was 
gone. It had been burned! up in the fire that con- 
sumed on March 7, 1744, the home of Jonathan Pierson 
in Newark. They found some Indians, however, who 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 29 

duplicated the deed March 14, 1744, and this they 
claimed re-established their rights. 

It was claimed on the part of the Proprietors that the 
Horse Neck claimants had dug up the only Indian 
within forty miles of Newark, namely one Andrew, a 
bad Indian who had been forbidden to remain at Cran- 
berry, Middlesex County, and was forced to live, along 
with another redman named Peter, on the north side of 
the Cranberry Creek. Andrew, it was alleged, had been 
hired by the squatters to assume the roll of a big chief, 
and with a few others to convey the lands anew to the 
settlers. It also appears that Nehemiah Baldwin, prob- 
ably of Orange, who had been cutting down timber in 
the disputed territory and sawing the same in his mill, 
was arrested and jailed in Newark. A band of rioters 
from "the back settlement," among them men of good 
reputation, released him from jail and were subsequently 
indicted. The inhabitants of Watsesson beheld with 
mixed feelings these movements of armed men, and some 
of them were among the 300 engaged in the disturbances. 
The riots, it should be said, were almost bloodless, and 
nobody in this region was badly hurt. They^ were 
demonstrations rather than attacks, for the men engaged 
were capable of restraint as well as firmness. Many of 
the Watsesson people attended the Orange church, whose 
pastor, Rev. Daniel Taylor, opposed the Proprietors, 
and wrote a tract in defense of the rioters. Among 
them were a number of his parishoners, and several were 
indicted. 

Various bits of data found in many scattered records 
throw light upon the years intervening between the ad- 
vent of the first settlers and the Revolutionary War. 
They help to locate roads, mill sites and homesteads, 



so BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

as well as to reveal the habite and occupations of the 
people. Our space will permit of but a few additional 
items concerning this period. 

One of the earliest sawmills of Bloomfield was that 
owned in 1743 by George Harrison. It is mentioned in 
the Newark town records as being one of the points on 
a line to divide the inhabitants of the "body of Newark'* 
from those of "Second River." The line ran "north 
west to Second River, thence up the same to the Saw 
Mill belonging to George Harrison, thence a direct line 
to the North East Corner of the Plantation of Stephen 
Morris," and so on to the mountain at Great Notch. 

Harrison's mill, located near the present Harrison 
Street and the Morris Canal, has gone through many 
changes. It became a mahogany sawmill for logs re- 
ceived from San Domingo, and was then transformed 
into Van Dyck's chocolate mill. Later Hugh F. Ran- 
dolph re-established mahogany sawing, and in time sold 
the plant to a man named Gwinn, who turned it into a 
paper mill and let it to William Frame of Bloomfield, 
and also built another mill close by. Steam power was 
introduced in these two paper mills. The Gwinns built 
a handsome residence near the mills, which was de- 
stroyed by fire. Two little children were burned to 
death. The boxwood path leading to the site of the 
Gwinn house was long a sad memorial of the former 
beauty of the place. 

The Harrisons, Farrands and Baldwins were the chief 
families numerically along the old road to Watsesson 
before the Revolution. Moses Farrand gave land for 
the school in that neighborhood, probably the Franklin 
school of 1758. 

On the Caleb Baldwin place, long occupied by the 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 31 

Kimball family, there is a handsome stone well-curb. It 
contains the following legend: 

"Caleb Harrison did the work of this stone in ye 
year 1760." 

Local tradition says that Caleb Harrison dwelt near 
Soho. It is probable that this earnest stonecutter who 
wrought so lastingly was a relative of the Caleb of that 
name who used to see visions, and who, it is said, con- 
structed a horseless carriage of some kind which failed 
to move, and was thenceforth known as "Caleb Harri- 
son's Vision." 

The plant long known as Black's mill, which was 
operated by the water of the great pond that once ex- 
tended all the way to the Bloomfield Turnpike, began 
its existence in the early part of the eighteenth century. 
On January 2, 1730, Jasper Crane, of the third genera- 
tion, and Joshua Miller, entered into an agreement "to 
erect and sett up a turning mill on a branch of the 
Second River, in the road that leads to Watsesson, on 
the land of him the said Jasper Crane, the same mill and 
damm to be erected and sett up and maintained at the 
equal charge of them." Crane was to allow "the privi- 
lege of getting what timber and stones shall be neces- 
sary." 

Early in the nineteenth century Dury Bromley and 
Thomas Oakes of Bloomfield built on this site a grist- 
mill for Joseph Black of Newark. Later the little 
stream was called Darling's Brook from James G. 
Darling and his brother, who succeeded Black. The last 
name for the plant was Brady's Mill, and to-day noth- 
ing remains of the mill or the pond. 



THE *'1776" PERIOD 

By Joseph F. Folsom 

During the Revolutionary War there were no battles 
fought on Watsesson Plain. This quiet neighborhood, 
being off the important military highways, escaped the 
greater woes of warfare. It is true there were several 
incursions by the enemy. These resulted in some finan- 
cial losses and more or less humor, but little bloodshed. 
Of course there were many worries and privations. 

Bloomfield came nearest to the horrors of war in 
1776. AVashington's troops crossed the Acquackan- 
nonck bridge on the 21st of November, and marched 
down the west bank of the Passaic. They were en route 
from Fort Lee to Trenton in the memorable retreat, 
and were closely followed by the British. Washington 
did not find time to visit personally Watsesson Plain, 
nor probably did many of his troops. His army stayed 
five days at Newark, however, and this section may have 
provided some forage or supplies. The British, though 
somewhat in a hurry to overtake the Americans, had a 
little more leisure for seeing the country. Detachments 
went visiting among the villages off the main road, and, 
though not very cordially welcomed, made themselves 
at home. However picturesque may have been the scen- 
ery of this neighborhood at the time, nothing quite 
equalled the sight of a string of corn-cured hams or a 
shoulder of beef. The Tommy Atkins of 1776 and his 
Hessian ally were both hungry, and with or without 
thanks took what they could get. They seem to have 
come to Bloomfield over the Newtown road, now Belle- 
s' 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 3S 

ville Avenue, and perhaps also by the old road over 
Franklin Hill. 

One of the calls made by the British foragers on the 
Newtown road was at the substantial stone dwelling 
owned by Morta Winne, located where at present the 
lawns of the Essex County Isolation Hospital at Soho 
touch the street. This fine old house was built in 1766, 
and great iron numerals across its front declared the 
fact. The numerals are preserved in the museum of 
the New Jersey Historical Society. The house was left 
unguarded and allowed to burn down on April 7, 1908, 
though the county authorities had proposed to preserve 
it for use as an office. 

As we have said, the British called at the Winne 
house, but evidently the door did not swing back with 
sufficient hospitality, for one of the troopers passed 
around to the rear of the house and poked his bayonet 
through a little window over the door leading into the 
back of the hallway. As one of the inmates happened to 
be hastening up the winding stairway at the time, the 
bayonet narrowly missed sticking into somebody and 
caused considerable fright. However, they did not burn 
the house, and Morta Winne lived to buy after the war 
with Continental money a big piece of swamp lying back 
of the house and along the Third River, which he named 
the Continental Woods. The Isolation Hospital is built 
on a part of the swamp. 

The Bergen farm in the Newtown neighborhood was 
also visited. Tradition says that when farmer Bergen 
saw the British approaching he led out his finest horse, 
and giving that surprised animal a vigorous kick, sent 
it flying toward the woods. It was his plan for saving 
his valuable steed. He found it later. 



34 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

There dwelt in the same locaHty a sensible housewife 
named King, probably Mrs. John King, in the stone 
house still standing at the corner of Belleville Avenue 
and Willett Street, opposite the site of the Captain 
Kidney house. One party of hungry Britons called 
upon this good woman for a bite to eat, and Mrs. King, 
thinking thereby to put the raiders in good humor and 
to save her neighbors from| annoyance, prepared as 
lavish a repast as her larder could afford. No record 
of the bill of fare remains, and tradition is dumb as to 
the final effect produced by this conciliatory banquet. 

The British seem to have reached Watsesson and to 
have visited most every house in the village. They 
carted off wearing apparel, household goods, farm 
produce, and silverware. Stories of how the neighbors 
hid their silver spoons in the well, or buried them in the 
garden, are still told by descendants. 

A tradition that has come down through the Ward 
family informs us that Jacob Ward, who kept the tavern 
at the point where Broad and Franklin streets now 
converge, and whose place previous to 1812 is frequently 
designated in the Newark "Town Records" as the voting 
place for the northern section of Newark, was also raided 
by the British. He had an unpleasant experience. 

Word came to the neighborhood that the enemy was 
approaching, and preparations for -flight were made. 
Ward owned property near the spot where the Essex 
County Penitentiary at Caldwell is now located, and he 
prepared to take his family and movable effects to that 
remote fastness. He had sent off several loads, and had 
the last one, which contained furniture, and was drawn 
by oxen, ready to start when the raiders arrived. They 
captured the cart, but the owner made his escape and 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW S5 

hid himself for some time in the underbrush along 
Toney's Brook. It is also said that the delay was caused 
by the family returning to get a child that had been 
forgotten in the excitement. It is presumed that the 
family reached the mountain in safety, and that the 
father joined them later. 

When the war was over, and there was some hope that 
the British Government might make good the damages 
done by their armies, a commission was appointed by the 
New Jersey Legislature to gather data and push the 
project. Jacob Ward made claims for damages sus- 
tained in 1776 to the amount of £162 6s. 6d., and when 
the bill is perused it may reveal that the oxen, cart and 
furniture carried off were charged up. 

Much light has been shed upon British depredations 
in Bloomfield by the "First Report of the Public Record 
Commission of New Jersey," published in 1899 by the 
Legislature of New Jersey. The compilers were Gen- 
eral William S. Stryker, Henry Haines and William 
Nelson. In this pamphlet are listed by towns the names 
of those property owners who like Jacob Ward filed 
claims with the commission. These claims now on file at 
Trenton not only indicate the routes taken by the British 
marauders, and thus confirm many old traditions, but 
they accurately inform posterity as to who suffered 
losses during the war, and thus help to confirm and 
localize many scattered traditions. The claims are gen- 
erally stated to be made for damages to property plun- 
dered or taken away by "the British Army or their ad- 
herents." Much of the plundering was done by the 
adherents, or "cowboys," who followed the army. They 
got their name from rounding up and driving off the 
cattle of the inhabitants. 



36 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

The claimants classified as inhabitants of Wardsesson, 
Essex County, were, with the amounts claimed, as fol- 
lows: Abel Freeman, 1776, £12; Abel Ward, 1776, 
£17 18s. 6d.; Widow Dorcas Lindly, £13 17s. lOd. ; 
Thomas Pierson, 1776, £300; John Davis, 1776, £60 
19s. ; Joseph Davis, 1776-1781, £36 4s. ; widow of John 
Morris, £54 ; widow of Jabez Baldwin, £28 8s. ; Stephen 
Ward, 1776, £39 17s. ; Lawrence Ward, 1776, £15 8s. ; 
John Garrabrant, 1776, £20 8s. ; James McGinnis, 
1777-1778, £4; Samuel McChesney, 1776, £7; Moses 
Sharp, £17 10s. ; Nicholas Garrabrant, 1776, £42 ; John 
Campbell, £10 14s. 6d. ; Ephraim Morris, 1781, £100 
12s.; Jacob Ward, 1776, £29 10s.; Daniel Dodd, 
£11 19s.; Joshua Dodd, 1776, £22 3s.; David Baldwin, 
£12 17s. 

Ephraim Morris's claim was made for damages in 
1781. Evidently the raids of 1776 were confined to the 
lower section of the community. The British probably 
came up by the Newtown road, now Belleville Avenue, 
and worked as far south on the Newark road as the 
Second River. James McGinnis, who lived on the old 
road near that river nearly opposite the Daniel Dodd 
house, was apparently not visited in 1776. His claims 
are for damages in 1777 and 1778. Daniel Dodd's 
claim is undated. The absence of the date 1776 on 
any of the Baldwin and Morris claims, seems to indicate 
that the pillagers did not go far above the junction 
of the present Belleville Avenue and Broad Street. Ac- 
cording to the classification of these names it seems 
clearly shown that the whole section from old Watsesson 
Mill to Morris Neighborhood had become known at the 
time of the Revolution as Wardsesson. Usage for 
obvious reasons had corrupted the original Indian name 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 37 

into one that paid its respects to the numerically domi- 
nant family of the community. 

James Hoyt, in his "First Church of Orange," men- 
tions a tradition that one James Jones of Bloomfield 
and his family were intercepted by the Hessians just as 
he was about to start for the mountains with his effects 
on a wagon. The whole outfit was captured, and the 
family sent as prisoners to New York. They after- 
wards went to Nova Scotia, which would seem to indi- 
cate that the British gave them land there. 

Hoyt speaks also of Cornelius Jones, a brother of 
James, as having fled at the approach of the enemy, and 
to have found on his return that his house was plun- 
dered, and his hogs and cattle carried off by the Hessians. 
This latter item is confirmed by the claim of Cornelius 
Jones of Orange, on record at Trenton, for £129 Is. for 
losses during the war. 

The exploit of a company of young patriots from the 
vicinity of Newtown, in the eastern section of the town, 
is related in Barber and Howe's "Historical Collections 
of New Jersey." These men, Captains John Kidney 
and Henry Jaroleman, with Jacob Garlaw and Halmach 
Jaroleman, according to the story, sledded over the 
meadows to Bergen Heights, and captured a British 
officer and some refugees who with others were having 
a dance in a school-house. They carried them to Morris- 
town jail. Some manuscript notes among the papers of 
the late Dr. Joseph A. Davis contain information ad- 
ditional to the above story. The name of John Winner 
precedes the others, making the party of adventurers 
five instead of four. Winner, or properly Winne, lived 
in the 1766 house built by his father, Morta Winne. 
The refugees were under the command of Thomas Ward, 



38 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

and when Captain Kidney peeped into the school-house 
window he saw a Captain McMichael, whom he cap- 
tured and carried to Morristown with the rest of the 
prisoners. The school-house in these notes is stated to 
have been at Bergen Point. 

Mark W. Ball of Newark has added other incidents 
to the story. JMr. Ball heard from the lips of Richard 
Kidney, a son of Captain John, that McMichael was the 
only prisoner taken, and that he was brought to Kid- 
ney's stone house at the corner of the present Belleville 
Avenue and Willett Street, and there kept guarded over 
night in the second story. In the morning he took 
breakfast with the family, and was then taken to Mor- 
ristown and turned over to the military authorities. In 
making the capture Kidney first secured the solitary sen- 
tinel and tied him to a tree. He then placed the fence 
rails against the windows to prevent the refugees from 
discovering how small was the attacking force. Then 
giving orders aloud he commanded Captain McMichael 
to come out personally and surrender. The school-house 
was in Bergen village, near by the old church and 
graveyard, in what is now Jersey City Heights. The 
party no doubt went by way of Schuyler's road, now the 
Belleville Turnpike, and crossed the Hackensack on the 
ice. A picture of Kidney's house, with its two stories, 
appears in Hulin's "Real and Idea] Bloomfield." It 
was later called the Wakcly house. The facts, as given 
by Mr. Ball, had long been lost, and they make the old 
Wakely house to have been one of our most historic 
buildings. It is to be regretted it is destroyed. The 
revised story is also nearer to reason, and we are inclined 
to think that Barber and Howe romanced when it came 
to the number of prisoners. It always looked like an 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 39 

impossibility for the Kidney party to have carried away 
a group of prisoners on a wood sled and get to Morris- 
town before morning. Mr. Ball and the Davis papers 
agree in making the capture one prisoner, and in being 
altogether reasonable in the details. There are reasons 
for supposing that this adventure occurred in 1779. 
That winter is said to have been very cold, and the 
Hackensack requires continued cold weather near the 
zero mark to freeze tight enough to carry a team. That 
winter the Americans were encamped at Morristown. 

Other traditions have reference to the visits of Wash- 
ington and the American forces. It is affirmed that 
Washington passed through the town, probably on his 
way to or from Morristown, and that with a party of 
officers he stopped at the door of Joseph Davis's house, 
opposite the present Baptist church, and asked direc- 
tions or other information. This house is very old. Its 
owner was one of the principal men of the village in 
those days. Deacon Davis is also mentioned among 
those who made claims for damages, his bill footing up 
£36 4s. for losses in the years 1776 and 1781. 

In his article in Shaw's "History of Essex and Hud- 
son Counties," Dr. Knox relates a similar tradition con- 
cerning the Joseph Davis house. Washington, it was 
said, came to the place looking for entertainment. 
Finding that General Henry Knox of the artillery and 
some sick soldiers had already been accommodated he 
passed on to the Farrand house beyond Franklin Hill. 
Dr. Knox thought that probably this incident occurred 
during the retreat across the State in 1776, and as- 
sumed that Washington's army had come down from 
Acquackanonck over two parallel roads. Even had 
this been the case it is not probable that Washington 



40 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

personally would have come by the roundabout way. 
He would have pushed by the direct road to Newark, 
where he knew accommodations awaited him. The British 
were too close at his heels to allow for any detours, at 
least for the commander-in-chief. 

Another house where Washington visited, according 
to family traditions, was the Moses Farrand house men- 
tioned above. Here an old table was shown for decades 
at which the great general is said to have taken a meal, 
or something of the kind. It was said that Mr. Farrand 
had to be guarded at one time by American soldiers, and 
that the Hessians were about the house at one time. 

Another Farrand family tradition states that during 
the Revolution a soldier was killed by the discharge of 
his own nmsket while attempting to climb the fence near 
the Farrand house. This story is confirmed by the 
account, given years ago by Jasper King, of the march 
through Bloomfield in the winter of 1779 of General 
Anthony Wayne's troops. Wayne had been encamped 
at the present Forest Hill, in the vicinity of the Second 
River, and had been ordered to remove to Morristown. 
The soldier, it is said, climbed the fence to see if the 
British were coming, which seems to have been a rather 
foolish move anyway looked at. Jasper King's story 
may be found in Hines's "Woodside." 

The old Thomas Cadmus homestead^ still standing on 
Washington Avenue, west of Toney's Brook, and called 
to-day "Washington's headquarters," gets its reputation 
from a single tradition. The story is that Hermanus 
Cadmus, whose father Thomas owned the place, was 
taken on Washington's knee in cherry time, and that he 
was about four years old at the time. A modem critic 
has scouted this cherry-tree story. He has said that 




1X1 

O 

Q 

O 
X 

O 

X 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 41 

when Washington was in Bloomfield it was bleak No- 
vember, and presumably only canned fruit obtainable. 
Nevertheless, Hermanns Cadmus, born December 7, 
1774, told the late John Oakes this personal experience 
with Washington and Mr. Oakes told it to the writer. 
The critic evidently thinks only of Washington's re- 
treat in the fall of 1776, and forgets that he must have 
passed through this locality a number of times. 

There is reason to suppose that Washington could 
have been in Bloomfield when cherries were ripe in 1780. 
Hermanns Cadmus would have been five years old at that 
time. After the engagement at Springfield the British 
left the State. Washington soon began to move his 
troops toward the Hudson. He was at Whippany on 
June 25th, and two days later he arrived at Ramapo. 
On the evening of June 25th, or the next morning, he 
could have been at the Cadmus house and right in the 
midst of cherry-picking. One road from Whippany to 
Ramapo ran through Hanover, Livingston, Orange, 
Bloomfield and Passaic. Washington could have come 
from Orange by way of Washington Avenue and would 
pass by the Cadmus house, and would naturally have 
halted for a visit. There is no good reason, however, 
to doubt the several traditions concernina; Washington's 
visits to Bloomfield, and there are many reasons for 
supposing them true. No doubt he passed through the 
neighborhood a number of times as he journeyed back 
and forth between the Hudson and Morristown during 
the war period. 

During the war members of the Orange church, of 
which Rev. Jedidiah Chapman was the patriotic pastor, 
made donations of clothing and other necessities to the 
American army. Many of these members resided here in 



42 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Bloomfield. In March, 1778, a very large donation was 
sent to the army encamped near Princeton. When the 
army was at Morristown supplies were sometimes pur- 
chased in Bloomfield, and the farmers carted hay to the 
camp. 

Among the veterans of the Revolution in Bloomfield 
was Captain John Smith, of Cranetown, a tall, soldierly 
man, who used to walk down to the Bloomfield Presby- 
terian church in the early years of the century carrying, 
in warm weather, his coat on his arm, and sometimes his 
shoes in his hand, only replacing them before approach- 
ing the church. He was a veteran of the war. 

There was also Lieutenant Dodd, who fought at Mon- 
mouth, and his son is said to have been a drummer boy 
at the same battle. This son, Isaac Dodd, kept the old 
Bloomfield tavern in the early years of this century, and 
used to relate this anecdote of the war. He was a drum- 
mer boy with a detachment of militia stationed at New- 
ark in 1780, at the time when the British made a raid 
on that place from Staten Island, and succeeded in get- 
ting their men into the heart of the town. They fired 
their six-pounder up Broad Street and drove the militia 
out, and the boy, running with the rest, threw his drum 
into a convenient pigsty for safety. He found it there 
the next day. 

Another resident of Bloomfield, John Collins, was at 
the storming of Stony Point. He was a native of the 
north of Ireland. He enlisted from Pennsylvania in 
the Continental Army, and after the war settled at 
Bloomfield. He was the father of Thomas Collins. 



AFTER THE REVOLUTION 

By Joseph F. Folsom 

After the war was over the people of Wardsesson, 
like all other Americans, settled down to the vari- 
ous vocations of life. They farmed their moderate 
holdings of land, and in winter carried on the work of 
their trades. Most everybody had a trade of some kind, 
whether millwright, tailor or shoemaker. There were 
also professional men, as doctors, lawyers, and school- 
masters. The minister had not yet been located among 
them. Cider made from Harrison and Canfield apples 
was a profitable commodity. 

The citizens had a share in the town and county 
offices. They were elected overseers of highways, pound- 
keepers, assessors, and freeholders. New people began 
to make homes in the town. An additional school was 
built, the one on Watsesson, or Franklin Hill, not suffic- 
ing for the growing population. 

The names of householders along the main road from 
the Second River to the Morris Neighborhood about the 
year 1796 appear on an old map reproduced in "The 
Church on the Green," by Knox. On the east side going 
north were Amos Dodd, Captain John Ogden, Nehemiah 
S. Baldwin, Joseph Davis, David Baldwin (near the 
school), Ralph Tucker, Joseph Ball, Henry Osborn, 
Simeon Riggs, Squire Baldwin, Ichabod Baldwin, 
Ephraim Morris. On the west side coming south were 
Silas Baldwin, Jesse Baldwin, Joseph Collins's shop, 
Nehemiah Baldwin, Zophar Baldwin, James Wharry, 
Joseph Dodd, Abraham Jeroleman, Widow Lloyd, Isaac 

43 



44 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Dodd (corner of Cranetown road), Isaac Ward, Jacob 
Ward, and James McGinnis. 

Previous to 1796 the locality now known as Bloom- 
field was a community of separated hamlets. Wardsesson 
was the district north and south of the Second River. 
Doddtown lay toward Orange. Crab Orchard lay north 
of the present Old First Church. Newtown was toward 
Belleville, on the present Belleville Avenue. Morris 
Neighborhood was near the Third River, and still farther 
away was the Stone House Plains. 

The immediate occasion that brought the scattered 
sections of the community into closer relations, and led 
to the choice of a comprehensive name, was the proposal, 
in 179-t, to form a church. Most of the people were 
Presbyterians, affiliated either with the First Church at 
Newark, or the Second Church of Newark, located at 
Orange. It was designed to form a parish and build a 
church that would be more convenient for attendants 
living in the various sections of the community than 
were the older churches. When the name Bloomfield 
was chosen it designated not a municipality, but a 
parish. Bloomfield, like Orange, was simply a neighbor- 
hood of Newark. The new name occurs for the first 
time in the Newark Town Records under date of April 
8, 1799, when certain citizens of this locality were 
elected overseers of highways for "Bloomfield." In 
1806 Bloomfield became one of the three wards of New- 
ark, and in 1812 the one time parish, with Belleville 
added, became an incorporated town. 

The special meeting called to name the parish was 
held on October 13, 1796. The proceedings have been 
described in a letter written forty-two years afterward 
by Isaac Watts Crane, the secretary of the meeting. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 45 

Writing from Bridgeton, New Jersey, February 28, 
1842, the aged man said in part: 

"Some time in the spring of 1797 (correctly October 
13, 1796) the trustees of the Presbyterian Society at 
Wardsesson, being about to assume a corporate name, 
and desirous of having the voice of the people on the 
subject, caused public notice to be given of a meeting 
at the school-house, near the house of Isaac Dodd, Esq., 
of which meeting Isaac Dodd was chosen (if I recollect 
right) chairman, and myself secretary. Several names 
were proposed, viz., Jefferson, Randolph, Greenfield, 
and Bloomingfield, when I proposed the name of General 
Bloomfield. There were present those who had served 
under him in the Western expedition of 1794, and who 
bore testimony to the benevolence of his character, his 
kindness, and his disposition, as the soldier's friend, to 
promote the comfort of the troops under his com- 
mand. The result was a vote, unanimous, or nearly so, 
in favor of the name of Bloomfield, which the trustees 
assumed, and a certificate thereof was transmitted to the 
clerk of the county to be recorded. 

"I wrote General Bloomfield and informed him of this 
occurrence by Mr. Abraham Ogden, who was going to 
Trenton to attend the supreme court. In my letter I 
stated that the society were about building a church. In 
his answer he expressed his acknowledgment for the un- 
expected honor, and promised to make a visit to the 
society on the 5th of July, when he would contribute his 
mite to the building of the church. He was engaged 
on the 4th to deliver the anniversary address before the 
Society of the Cincinnati at Elizabeth Town. On the 
5th a very large meeting assembled on the Green, and 
an address was delivered by General B., expressing the 



46 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

most kindly feelings, which was responded to by myself 
on behalf of the society. General B. requested me to 
accompany him to the library, and at his request I made 
out and furnished him with a catalogue, he wishing, as 
he said, to know what it contained, that he might present 
it with such as it had not. 

"The amount of his donation in books and cash you 
must know better than I do. Mrs. B., who accompanied 
her husband, presented the society with an elegant gilt 
Bible." 

The amount given by the General was $140, and he 
presented about 150 volumes. These books, many of 
them containing his bookplate, drifted about in various 
libraries, including that of the Eucleian Society, and 
were last seen in the Temperance Hall, and given to a 
mission on Glenwood Avenue about the time the Baptist 
Church bought the hall of the Women's Christian Tem- 
perance Union. 

On the occasion of General Bloomfield's visit a big 
supply of apple butter was necessary for the feast. The 
only kettle large enough for the purpose was owned by 
Isaac Dodd. Many years afterward this brass utensil 
was purchased at auction by Mark W. Ball for ten dol- 
lars, and is still preserved at Newark. The new owner 
had the top of this historic relic cut down and refinished 
at Joseph B. Harvey's tin shop because it had become 
somewhat perforated through long use. 

The course of events beginning in 1794 with the defi- 
nite agitation for a local church, and terminating in 
1800 with the completion of the "church on the Green," 
has recently been clearly and chronologically written by 
Amzi Dodd. It may be read in the "Register and 
Directory" of the First Presbyterian Church, published 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 47 

in 1906. Judge Dodd has carefully gone over the pre- 
viously printed historical sketches, and has added con- 
siderable data obtained through his own researches. The 
result is the best ordered sketch yet published of the 
period in question. The space here allowed permits 
only the barest outline. 

Previous to 1794 there were religious meetings held 
which resulted in dejfinite proposals to form at Wardses- 
son a local church. The promoters of the enterprise in- 
cluded members of the Newark and of the Orange 
churches. More attended at Orange because it was 
nearer. Ephraim Morris on May 7, 1794, appeared 
before the Presbytery of New York and requested on 
behalf of the Wardsesson people that authority be 
granted for the organization of a church. 

The Presbytery appointed a committee to confer with 
committees from the Newark, Orange and Wardsesson 
congregations. The conference favored a new church 
society, and as a result a petition signed by ninety-eight 
persons, "heads of families and inhabitants of Wardses- 
son, Crane Town, New Town and Stone House Plains, 
requesting to be organized as the Third Presbyterian 
Congregation in the Township of Newark," was pre- 
sented to the Presbytery on July 23, 1794. The re- 
quest, which was presented by delegates Ephraim Mor- 
ris, Joseph Davis, John Dodd and Stephen Fordham, 
was granted. 

Following this action the new society began, April 
30, 1795, to engage preachers to act as temporary sup- 
plies. The services were held most frequently in the 
house of Joseph Davis, and at times in the Franklin 
school-house on Watsesson Hill. Trustees were elected 
October 24, 1796. On October 27, 1796, a subscription 



48 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

was begun to raise funds for a building. On the same 
date a deed was made by Joseph Davis and his wife, con- 
veying for eight pounds "That lot of land called the 
church lot in Bloomfield adjoining the east side of the 
Green, being one hundred and twenty feet in front and 
rear, and extending eighty feet deep ; the northeast 
corner of said lot being distant four chains and sixty 
links from the south side of the New Town road, the 
whole containing twenty-two hundredths of an acre." 

On May 18, 1797, the comer-stone was laid. During 
the summer of 1799 worship Avas held in the then un- 
finished church. The Presbytery of New York voted 
preaching supplies for the Bloomfield church on October 
3, 1799, but after that date the records of that presby- 
tery cease to make mention of the new organization 
which since 1794 it had fostered. There was a reason. 
The Rev. Abel Jackson, a member of the Associate 
Presbytery of Morris County, became pastor of the new 
church in December, 1799, and finally carried it over to 
that body. It was not, however, all done in a day. Elder 
Simeon Baldwin was delegated on May 28, 1800, to 
attend the New York Presbytery and request that body 
to install Pastor Jackson some convenient time in the 
fall. There was a hitch or delay somewhere, for at a 
church meeting on October 25, 1800, Deacon Isaac 
Dodd was instructed to attend a meeting of the Morris 
County Presbytery, and ask that body to install their 
pastor. The installation occurred October 29, 1800. 
Ten years later, on November 8, 1810, the same Presby- 
tery dissolved Mr. Jackson's pastorate, and then the 
Bloomfield church, never having been entirely at home 
in the "Associate" body, soon swung back into more 
regular Presbyterianism by uniting with the new Presby- 





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BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 49 

tery of Jersey, which had been previously a part of the 
New York body. 

The "Associate" Presbytery was a seceding body 
formed at Hanover, N. J., Morris County, May 3, 
1780, by ministers Jacob Green of Hanover, Joseph 
Grover of Parsippany, Amzi Lewis of Warwick, N. Y., 
and Ebenezer Bradford of Madison. It was formed 
professedly in the interest of ecclesiastical independence, 
and admitted both Presbyterian and Congregational 
churches. There were similar associations elsewhere. 
The Morris County organization was ahead of its times, 
but lasted upwards of forty years. One of its fruits is 
a fund still in existence providing help for students for 
the ministry. The fund is under the control of the 
"Society of Morris County for the Promotion of Learn- 
ing and Religion." 

Rev. Abel Jackson, the first pastor of the Bloomfield, 
church, was evidently a man of strong personality and 
decided opinions. During the first year of his ministry 
a powerful revival occurred, and a large number was 
added to the new church. Doubtless this event was the 
leading force to hold back for some eight years the tide 
of ecclesiastical controversy which brought about his 
dismission in 1810, and later developed into the Jackson 
and the Gildersleeve factions. Alexander Wilson, who 
taught the school near the church, caricatured Pastor 
Jackson as 

"The grim man of God, with voice like a trumpet, 
His pulpit each Sunday bestampt and bethumpit." 

The lonely schoolmaster also noted the after effects 
of the revival in the enthusiastic psalm-singing of the 
neighborhood, but seems to have had no sympathy with 



60 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

the movement. Whatever the merits of the controversy- 
over the pastor and the two presbyteries, nothing stands 
against the good character of the first pastor. He was 
prudent, too, as well as pious, for there is extant a cer- 
tificate of stock in the Newark Banking and Insurance 
Company made out in the name of Abel Jackson about 
1805. 

That all the Bloomfielders were not as grim as their 
worthy first pastor may be gathered from the following 
humorous incident that occurred probably soon after 
Rev, Cyrus Gildersleeve was settled in 1812. The inci- 
dent turned on the possession of the old brass cannon. 

Mr. Jackson, after resigning in 1810, continued to 
reside in the village. After two years Mr. Gildersleeve 
was installed, and he warmly supported the Presbyterian 
polity, to which meanwhile the people had again re- 
turned. But the old leaven of Jacksonism still worked, 
and the adherents of that party worshiped in the acad- 
emy. When the time for the celebration of the Fourth 
approached it was arranged by each of the parties to 
have its own celebration. It became a matter of ab- 
sorbing competition, and plans were laid to get posses- 
sion of the cannon. The Gildersleeveites, or "church 
party," got there first, however, and captured the prize, 
keeping it secure against the other faction, and indulg- 
ing in cheerful anticipations of firing it off loud and 
often in the early hours of the national day. But the 
Jacksonites, or the "academy party," were not subdued 
nor discouraged, and their silence should have boded 
mischief. 

One doughty member of that party, Thomas Collins, 
stole at the dead of night to the hiding place of the old 
cannon, and, with grim dog-in-the-mar.ger satisfaction. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 61 

drove a rat-tail file deep and hard into its touch-hole. 
There it stuck, and the chances of getting it out before 
the next day were slim for the church party. After 
this exploit the chuckling scout went back to gloat over 
the morrow with his fellow-plotters. But the Gilder- 
sleeveites were not long in ignorance of their repulse, for 
the spiked cannon was discovered, and for a time con- 
sternation spread through their ranks. It looked like no 
salutes in the morning and the triumphant jeers of the 
Jacksonites. One of them, Thomas Oakes, however felt 
sure he could drill it out before daybreak, and so with 
mingled hopes they dragged the heavy piece down to the 
blacksmith shop at the corner of Franklin and Mont- 
gomery streets, and with might and main worked till 
the early morning hours on the rat-tail file. Their labors 
were rewarded. It was drilled out, and the "academy 
party" was awakened in the morning by the jubilant 
roaring of the lately choked cannon. It blared with 
emphasis that day, and silenced the crestfallen party 
that had attempted to put it out of commission. After 
that the Jackson party lost ground. Whether this 
defeat depressed them beyond revival, or whether the 
Nemesis of the old war relic oppressed them for their 
act of vandalism, no one can tell ; but the Gildersleeveites 
were seen to flourish like the green bay tree, and they 
marched at the head of the procession and fired off the 
cannon any time they wanted to ever afterward. 

The brass cannon of this incident still survives. It 
was long used in more recent times by the Bloomfield 
Battery Association, and not only awoke the neighbors 
each 4th of July, but figured in the old-time presi- 
dential campaign parades. It was originally gotten 
from a shop in New York by Eliphalet Hall and Major 



52 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Simeon Baldwin, who were a committee to buy a town 
cannon. It is a handsome French field piece, and has 
upon it an inscription in relief. It was used, it is said, in 
the colonial wars. 

The iron cannon, buried muzzle downward to form a 
post at the corner of Liberty Street and Park Place, 
was brought to Bloomfield after the Civil War. It was 
gotten by Augustus T. Morris from the navy yard at 
Brooklyn. It is a ship's howitzer, and stood mounted 
for a number of years on a wooden base at the upper 
end of the Green. 

One of the results of the controversy over church 
polity was the removal of a number of the Jacksonians 
in 1812 to the Caldwell Church, which still remained in 
the Associate Presbytery. In the records of that church 
a note is added to the names of the members received 
from Bloomfield which says: "Who came here because 
the church of Bloomfield voted itself Presbyterian, No- 
vember 6, 1812." Stephen Fordham, one of the group 
to go out, was an influential man in Essex County. He 
was appointed at the Newark town meeting of April 
12, 1802, a member of a committee to "Enquire into 
and ascertain the privileges of the Town under the 
ancient Charter." The committee brought in a report 
the same year, which is a very useful document, relating 
to questions of grants, common lands,_ and proprietary 
rights. Fordham was one of the original subscribers to 
the fund to build the Bloomfield church, and went about 
soliciting subscriptions. His home was in Cranetown, 
and he was buried at Caldwell. He was bom in 1754, 
and died November 29, 1829. 

Other names in the Caldwell records designated by 
the previously mentioned note as members who left the 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 53 

Bloomfield church because of its change of poHty, are 
Oliver Crane and wife; Stephen Fordham and wife; 
Zadock Crane and wife ; Lewis Baldwin and w^ife ; Fanny 
Crane, wife of Jonah Crane; Maria Collins, wife of 
Thomas Collins ; and John Cockef air. 

Bloomfield was thick with events at the close of the 
eighteenth century. With the organization of the 
church were grouped the naming of the town, the pur- 
chase of the Green, and the opening of the burying- 
ground, not to mention Alexander Wilson. 

The burying-ground was given by Isaac Ball, and the 
first to be buried there was John Luke, who lived on 
the Cranetown road, now Park Avenue, near State 
Street. There were five acres in the original plot, and 
to the north was the property of Isaac Ball, where about 
1810 they dug clay and made bricks for the Bloomfield 
Academy. The "brick pits" became in time a perpetual 
pond, where there were catfish to be caught, and in win- 
ter it provided the earliest skating pond. The cemetery 
was enlarged about 1850 through the purchase from 
James Ball, son of Isaac, of twenty acres. At the same 
time it was incorporated, with Dr. J. A. Davis, David 
Conger, Mark W. Ball, and William K. Peters as trus- 
tees. James Ball had been at the point of selling the 
land to Major Simeon Baldwin, but at the request of 
his brother Mark, it was secured for the church. The 
ground was surveyed by R. L. Cooke, son of the school 
matron, and cost about $1,500. 

The "boss mason" who erected the Presbyterian 
church was Aury King. His home was east of the hill 
on the Newtown road, where afterward the father of 
Edmund H. Davey lived. The house still stands. Aury 
King had been a soldier in the Revolution. He lies 



54 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

buried in the old cemetery, and John Oakes, in Septem- 
ber, 1902, paid him the following quaint and beautiful 
tribute, which as previously printed in Hulin's "Real 
and Ideal Bloomfield," runs as follows: 

AuRY King's Monument 
Wandering thro' the grounds of the dead 
I came to a humble stone on which I read 
These words: "To the memory of Aury King." 
The stone had no eulogy or praises to sing: 
Simply "Died in eighteen forty-six, aged 92." 
Turning eastward from his grave on the hill I view 
His monument — the walls of a church of stone, 
Against which a century's storms have blown ; 
Yet the stones are as even, the joints are as true 
As when as master-mason he laid them up new. 
From the upheld spire the bell will outring: 
"These walls below are a monument to Boss Aury King." 

The stone used to build the church mostly was quar- 
ried opposite the copper mills at Soho. From there 
came particularly the three great stones at the three 
doors. Some of the stone came from a quarry near 
Toney's Brook and the Bromley property. Isaac Ball 
was one of the quarrymen. 

The Bloomfield Green was purchased for $200 from 
Joseph Davis for a military training ground. The deed 
given by Squire Davis to the trustees; Samuel Ward, 
Joseph Woodruff, Nathaniel Crane and John Dodd, is 
dated November 27, 1797. This was five months after 
the visit of General Joseph Bloomfield and the exercises 
on the "Green," which shows that for some time the 
grounds had been used for public purposes by permis- 
sion of its owner. The deed definitely mentions "the 
meetino" house lot" as one of the boundaries of the 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 55 

Green, which proves that the church itself was not 
built on the parade ground, whatever of the present large 
area of the church lot above Beach Street may have 
been originally included in the public green. The lines 
mentioned in the deed began at the southwest corner of 
the school lot. There was a subscription taken up by 
Israel Crane and General John Dodd to secure the park, 
but the required amount was not raised. Joseph Davis 
generously gave the deed and overlooked the shortage. 
There is extant a copy of the deed, but the original is 
said to be lost. It was printed in the Bloomfield Record, 
December 4, 1873. 

The "American Ornithologist" Alexander Wilson, as 
previously mentioned, was during 1801 the village 
schoolmaster of Bloomfield. 

It appears that Wilson came to Bloomfield between 
May 1 and July 12, 1801, for, according to one of his 
letters, he was in Philadelphia on the former date, and 
his first Bloomfield letter to his friend, Charles Orr, of 
Philadelphia, was dated July 12th. All of his Bloom- 
field letters extant were written to Orr, whose address 
was in care of "Mr. Dobson's Bookstore, Second, be- 
tween Market and Chestnut." The first reads, in part, 
as follows: 

"If this letter reaches you, it will inform you that I 
keep school at 12s. per quarter, York currency, with 
35 scholars, and pay 12s. per week for board, and 4s. 
additional for washing, and 4s. per week for my horse. 
I stayed only one night in York, and being completely 
run out, except about three 11-penny bits, I took the 
first school from absolute necessity that I could find. 
I live six miles from Newark and twelve miles from New 
York, in a settlement of Presbyterians. They pay their 



66 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

minister £250 a year for preaching twice a week, and 
their teacher (Wilson himself) $40 a quarter for the 
most spirit-sinking, laborious work, six, I may say, 
twelve times weekly. I have no company and live un- 
knowing and unknown." 

In a later letter Wilson thus describes the school and 
church in Bloomfield: 

"The school-house in which I teach is situated at the 
extremity of a spacious level plain of sand, thinly cov- 
ered with grass. In the center of this plain stands a 
newly erected stone meeting-house, 80 feet by 60, which 
forms a striking contrast with my sanctum sanctorum, 
which has been framed of logs some 100 years ago, and 
looks like an old sentry box. The scholars have been 
accustomed to great liberties by their former teacher. 
I was told that the people did not like to have their 
children punished, but I began with such a system of 
terror as soon established my authority most effectively. 
I succeeded in teaching them to read, and I care for 
none of their objections." 

Wilson concluded his letter with the following story, 
which can be added to the witch lore of New Jersey: 

"The following anecdote will give some idea of the 
people's character. A man was taken sick a few weeks 
ago and got deranged. It was universally said that he 
was bewitched by an old woman who lived adjoining. 
This was the opinion of the Dutch doctor who attended 
him, and at whose request a warrant was procured from 
the justice for bringing the witch before the sick man, 
who, after tearing the old woman's flesh with his nails 
till the blood came, sent her home and afterward re- 
covered. This is a fact. The justice who granted the 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 57 

warrant went through among the people with me. I 
intend to visit the poor woman myself, and publish it 
to the world in the Newark newspapers for the amuse- 
ment of New Jersey." 

Possibly the Dutch doctor was the Hessian Doctor 
Bohn of Verona, who used, it was said, some magic in 
his practice. 

In one of his letters Wilson told Orr that the bones 
of a mammoth had been discovered in Bloomfield, and in 
a subsequent letter, July 23d, he gave the details as 
follows : 

"The gentlemen who discovered the bones of which I 
spoke is Mr. Kenzie, who was sinking a well for his 
paper mill in a swamp supposed formerly to have been 
the bed of a small creek that runs near. . . . Six feet 
from the surface, under a stratum of sand four inches 
deep, they found several bones, apparently belonging 
to the tail, six inches in breadth, with a part of a leg 
bone measuring upward of seven inches in diameter, at 
the joint, part of a rib four feet long, and many frag- 
ments in a decayed state." 

The Mr. Kenzie mentioned in this letter was Charles 
Kinsey, afterward a member of Congress. He invented 
a machine for making paper, and he was at the time 
erecting a mill along Second River, near the Daniel 
Dodd house, and back of the present "brick row" on 
Franklin Street. He also erected a mill at Paterson. 
A fine portrait of Kinsey is in the library of the New 
Jersey Historical Society. Kinsey's mill was afterward 
operated by Eliphalet Hall and Jacob K. Meade. They 
made there about 1818 the paper used for "Riley's 
Narrative of the Wreck of the Brig Commerce," a 



58 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

popular book in its day. The "Coggeshall House" on 
Race Street was Meade's home. Next door west lived 
his partner. The John Oakes map shows the location. 

Wilson lampooned the Bloomfield folks without good 
reason. His letters show he had a burden on his mind 
when he came here. He had had some affair of the heart 
back in Pennsylvania, and his better feelings were held 
in leash. There seems to have been but one person in 
the village for whom he felt very much regard. That 
was James Gibb, an artist, or teacher, who also was a 
Scot, having been born in Paisley, February 5, 1775. 
To Gibb, in 1812, Wilson wrote a letter which is not 
included in the published collection. It was recently 
advertised for sale by an Edinburgh bookseller. If 
obtained it might throw more light on Wilson's associa- 
tions in Bloomfield. James Gibb married Lydia, the 
daughter of Bethuel and Hannah Ward. Lydia Gibb 
died November 28, 1834. Both are buried in the Bloom- 
field cemetery. 

Wilson's poem, "The Dominie," was written at Bloom- 
field, and published September 8, 1801, in the Sentmel 
of Freedom, at Newark. It runs as follows: 

"The Dominie" 

Of all professions that this world has known. 
From clowns and cobblers upwards to the throne; 
From the grave architect of Greece and Rome, 
Down to the framer of a farthing broom, 
The worst for care and undeserved abuse. 
The first in real dignity and use, 
(If kind to teach and diligent to rule) 
Is the learned master of a little school. 
Not he who guides the legs or skills the clown 
To square his fists, and knock his fellow down ; 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 59 

Not he who shows the still more barbarous art 

To parry thrusts and pierce the unguarded heart ; 

But that good man who, faithful to his charge, 

Still toils, the opening reason to enlarge ; 

And leads the growing mind through every stage, 

From humble A B C to God's own page ; 

From black, rough pothooks, horrid to the sight, 

To fairest lines that float o'er purest white ; 

From numeration, through an opening way, 

Till dark Annuities seem clear as day ; 

Pours o'er the mind a flood of mental light, 

Expands its wings and gives its powers for flight. 

Till earth's remotest bound and heaven's bright train 

He trace, weigh, measure, picture and explain. 

If such his toils, sure honor and regard, 

And wealth and fame shall be his dear reward ; 

Sure every tongue will utter forth his praise, 

And blessings gild the even of his days ! 

Yes — blessed, indeed, by cold, ungrateful scorn, 

With study pale, by daily crosses worn. 

Despised by those who to his labor owe 

All that they read, and almost all they know. 

Condemned, each tedious day, such cares to bear 

As well might drive e'en Patience to despair; 

The partial parent's taunt — the idler dull — 

The blockhead's dark, impenetrable skull — 

The endless round of A B C's whole train, 

Repeated o'er ten thousand times in vain. 

Placed on a point, the object of each sneer, 

His faults enlarged, his merits disappear; 

If mild — "Our lazy master loves his ease. 

The boys at school do anything they please." 

If rigid — "He's a cross, hard-hearted wretch, 

He drives the children stupid with his birch. 

My child, with gentle means, will mind a breath; 

But frowns and flogging frighten him to death." 



60 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Do as he will his conduct is arraigned, 
And dear the little that he gets is gained; 
E'en that is given him, on the quarter day, 
With looks that call it — money thrown away. 
Just Heaven ! who knows the unremitting care 
And deep solicitude that teachers share. 
If such their fate, by thy divine control, 
O give them help and fortitude of soul ! 
Souls that disdain the murderous tongue of Fame, 
And strength to make the sturdiest of them tame ; 
Grant this, ye powers ! to dominies distrest, 
Their sharp-tailed hickories will do the rest. 

Wilson caricatured the Bloomfield horse in the follow- 
ing stanza : 

Here old Rosinantes their bare bones uprearing, 
Move past us as if Death's horrid steed were appearing ; 
Dogs snuff, turkey buzzards swarm round for a picking. 
And tanners look out, and prepare for a sticking. 
Here's the one-handed plow, like an old crooked rafter, 
The genius of farming surveys it with laughter. 

Wilson did not take to the gentler sex, whom he cari- 
catured thus : "Like ducks in their gait — like pumpkins 
their faces." 

Wilson has at least thrown light, however discolored, 
upon Bloomfield and its people more than a century ago. 
It is easy to sift away the prejudice, and find remaining 
in his letters certain facts about the village worth know- 
ing. Good Deacon Ephraim Morris, who died May 15, 
1814, was lampooned as "Grumbo the Miller" whose 
Dutchman, Hans, operated the plant while the deacon 
was engaged at the church. We can plainly see through 
this caricature the sturdy miller, well known and active^ 
whose vigorous influence was felt wherever he moved. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 61 

The men of Bloomfield in the first half of the nine- 
teenth century generally followed some trade. Few of 
them were "scribes," and the commuter had not yet come 
upon the scene. To accompany the valuable map which 
appears in this volume the compiler, John Oakes, sup- 
plied the vocations of the residents of the town about 
1830. They were intelligent men, interested in educa- 
tion, and capable of thinking for themselves. The list, 
or business directory, for 1830, is as follows : 

Morris family, farmers, saw mill, grist mill, black- 
smith shop, owners of four-horse stages running to 
New York ; Isaac Collins, carpenter ; Samuel Pitt, 
storekeeper, owner of cider and also paper mill ; Charles 
H. Osbom, carpenter ; James Ball, carpenter ; John 
Moore, papermaker at Pitt's mill ; Simeon Baldwin, boss 
carpenter; Jonathan Dodd, cooper; Captain Benjamin 
Tucker, sloop between Newark and New York ; Joel 
Dunham, millwright; Michael Chitterling, carpet- 
weaver ; Gorline Doremus, storekeeper ; Isaac Ward, 
paper mill, made by hand ; Brower, pasteboard mill ; 
Hiram Dodd, deceased, was a millwright ; Herman 
Cadmus, farmer; Brower, father of Samuel, pasteboard 
maker; Abijah Dodd, farmer; Silas Monroe, shoe shop; 
Dury Bromley, boss millwright, repairer, saw mill ; 
Jotham Ward, shoe shop ; Thomas Collins, stone-cutter, 
tombstones ; Joseph Farrand Ward, farmer and car- 
penter ; Daniel Thompson, wheelwright shop ; M. D. 
Thomas, storekeeper at the Center ; Caleb Ward, artist ; 
Abitha Ward, shoe shop ; Ira Dodd, mason, bridge 
builder and farmer ; Abraham Cadmus, farmer ; Captain 
Benjamin Church, sea captain; Aaron Ballard, farmer, 
stage driver ; Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve, retired ; Joseph 
Collins, tailor shop ; Zophar Baldwin Dodd, tailor shop ; 



62 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Matthias Bowden, paper maker; Squire Joseph Davis, 
died 1827, farmer; Isaac Dodd, mason; Thomas Spear, 
watchmaker ; repair shop ; Isaac Dodd, tavern keeper, 
had been drummer in Revolution ; Dr. Eleazar D. Ward, 
physician ; Dr. Joseph S. Dodd, physician, then had 
office in Mrs. Henry King's house ; Bethuel Ward, store- 
keeper; Daniel Dodd, farmer; Amos Dodd, shoe shop; 
Jacob K. Meade, tanner, squire, etc. ; Eliphalet Hall, 
squire, had manufactured paper with Meade ; Josiah 
Fairchild, hatter, hat shop ; Matthias Baldwin, shoe 
shop ; Isaac Baldwin, boss carpenter ; Charles Wharry, 
butcher; James Wharry, carpenter; James Gibb, artist, 
friend of Alexander Wilson (the house later occupied 
by the mother of A. Oakie Hall) ; Smith Ward, store- 
keeper ; Linus Ward, storekeeper ; Moses Condit, farmer, 
man of all work ; Eli Baldwin, shoe shop ; Israel Ward, 
shoe shop ; William Williamson, had been quarryman ; 
Horton, tin peddler, traveled with a one-horse wagon, 
lived in house owned by Ira Dodd; Rev. Gideon N. 
Judd, pastor of Presbyterian Church, lived in the Cap- 
tain Church house. 

Zophar Baldwin Dodd, mentioned in the aboA^e direc- 
tory, originated in Bloomfield the idea of planting elms. 
The famous trees around the Green are about eighty- 
five years old. In 1826 he visited New Haven and was 
impressed by the great elms of that town. The next 
year, 1827, he planted the elms now standing in front 
of the German Theological Seminary, and the follow- 
ing year those at the foot of the Green, opposite the 
present Church of the Sacred Heart. Following his 
example, other residents whose property adjoined the 
Green set out trees. Among these at various times were 
R. L. Cooke and Mark W. Ball. The trees in the center 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 63 

of the park were set out later by R. L. Cooke. There 
is a large elm on the old High School grounds stand- 
ing alone near Broad Street whose age is also definitely 
known. It was planted with some others one day in 
the year 1830 by Thomas Collins. John Oakes watched 
him remove some poplar trees set out in 1809, and 
Thomas Collins told the boy it was now the twenty-first 
birthday of his son Alfred Marvin, and that the poplars 
planted at his birth having proved unsatisfactory, he 
was about to plant elms instead. 

Thomas Spear, about 1830, lived in a double house 
on the north side of Liberty Street. In the east end of 
that house lived Jane Crane and her widowed mother. 
The first piano owned in Bloomfield was owned by Jane, 
and made music there. The first musical instrument 
used in the old church was the big base viol of Caleb 
Ward. After some opposition Caleb was allowed to sit 
in the midst of the choir in the center gallery and ac- 
company the singers. The first band of wind instru- 
ments was brought to Bloomfield by Thomas Collins. 
The players came from Newark and other places, and 
gave a primitive band concert one summer evening at 
the Collins house. 

The limits of this chapter have long been exceeded. 
The much left to be said must in this volume be left 
unsaid. Other chapters contain material about more 
recent times. The surface, however, has been merely 
scratched. There remains for the writer of this chapter 
■the duty of recognizing the brave boys of 1861, who 
went down to the front in the War of the Rebellion, 
though the subject falls outside his alloted department. 
The following itinerary of the regiment in which the 
Bloomfield veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic 



64. BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

served has been furnished by Recorder George W. Cad- 
mus, as also the roll of the company. They are valu- 
able historical documents. The story of the regiment 
is as follows : 

"The 26th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry was or- 
ganized on September 3, 1862; and mustered in at New- 
ark, N. J., September 18, 1862, by Captain S. M. 
Sprole, 4th United States Infantry, During its term 
of service it had the following field officers : Andrew 
Morrison, Colonel ; Thomas A. Colt and Edward Martin- 
dale, Lieutenant-Colonels ; J. W. DeCamp and William 
W. Morris, Majors; Amos J. Cummings, Sergeant 
Major; Adjutant, John C. White; Quartermaster, John 
H. Bailey ; Quartermaster Sergeant, Ira Kilburn ; Sur- 
geon, Luther G. Thomas ; Chaplain, D. T. Morrill. 
Moved to Washington, D. C, September 26, 1862. 

"Assigned to General Henry S. Briggs, provisional 
command Army of the Potomac, September 30, 1862. 
Served in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 6th Army Corps, 
Army of the Potomac, from October 11, 1862. General 
W. T. H. Brooks, Colonel Henry Whiting and Colonel 
L. A. Grant commanding the Brigade; Major General 
William F. Smith and Brigadier General A. P. Howe, 
the Division; and Major General John Sedgwick, the 
corps. Reported to General Banks, commanding the 
defenses of Washington, December 27^ 1862. 

"Moved with General Briggs, provisional command, 
to Frederick, Md., September 30, 1863, to join the 6th 
Army Corps. Attached to the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 
at Hagcrstown, Md., October 11th. 'This Brigade was 
known as the First Vermont Brigade,' composed of the 
2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th Vermont and 26th New Jersey 
Volunteers. Remained at Hagerstown until October 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 65 

31st. Marched to and crossed the Potomac at Berlin, 
Md., October 31st to November 2d. Advanced into Vir- 
ginia, November 6th. Reached Upperville, November 
5th ; White Plains, November 6th ; New Baltimore, No- 
vember 9th. Marched to Stafford C. H., November 
16th-17th; and to White Oak Church, December 4th- 
6th. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12th- 
15th. Crossed the Rappahannock at Franklin's Cross- 
ing or Deep Run, December 12th ; deployed in line of 
battle, advanced and occupied positions on the Richmond 
Road and Deep Creek until December 15th. Winter 
quarters near Bell Plain Landing, December 20, 1862, 
to April 28, 1863. 

"Mud march, January 20-23, 1863. Fatigue duty 
with the pontoons, January 21st-22d. Chancellors- 
ville campaign, April 28th to May 6th. Operations at 
Franklin's Crossing, April 29th to May 2d. Guard of 
pontoon train to Bank's Ford, night of April 30th. 
Crossed the Rappahannock at Deep Run, evening of 
May 2d ; and moved to position on Hazel Run, before 
day, May 3d. Second battle of Fredericksburg, May 
3-4, 1863. Assault and capture of Mayres Heights 
and occupation of Fredericksburg, May 3d. Battle of 
Salem Church, May 3d and 4th. Actions on Dowman's 
Farm and near Banks' Ford, May 4th. With the Rear 
Guard covered the crossing of the 6th Corps at Banks' 
Ford. Crossed the river night of May 4th, and as- 
sisted in removing the pontoons, morning of May 5th. 
Returned to camp at Bell Plain, May 8th. Operations 
at Franklin's Crossing or Deep Run Ravine, June 5th 
to 10th. 

"Colonel Grant, commanding the brigade, reported as 
follows: 'The troops were ordered forward to drive the 



66 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

enemy from the rifle pits on the opposite side of the 
Rappahannock at Frankhn's Crossing; they rushed 
gallantly down the bank and under a galling fire 
launched the pontoons, rowed across, charged the rifle 
pits, captured them with many prisoners. It was an 
exciting and brilliant aff'air, and no account can do 
justice to officers and men engaged.' Occupied a 
position in the front line of battle across the Bowling 
Green Road, near the Bernard House, June 6th and 
7th ; with the Brigade held the front in face of the 
enemy for about fifty hours. Relieved from duty at the 
front, June 14th. Moved to Washington, D. C, June 
14th-17th; thence to Newark, N. J., June 19th. 
Mustered out June 27, 1863. Expiration of service." 

The following is a list of Company F, 26th Regi- 
ment, New Jersey Volunteers, 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 
6th Army Corps. In this list those still living are so 
designated, the others have died. Where any have been 
wounded, taken prisoner or killed in battle, the fact is 
stated ; and those not of Bloomfield have their residence 
suffixed. 

Captains. — Walter H. Dodd ; Robert J. Beach. 

Lieutenants. — William R. Taylor, Montclair; Francis 
Danbacker, living. 

Sergeants. — Ira S. Dodd, living ; George W. Cadmus, 
living; John M. Wheeler, Montclaii, killed in battle; 
Charles Litteel. 

Corporals. — Joseph W. Nason, Montclair, killed in 
battle ; Joseph B. Osborn, wounded in battle ; William 
Egbertson, Montclair, wounded in battle; James H. 
Williams, Montclair; John M. Corby, Montclair, taken 
prisoners; John H. Cockefair, living; Edwin F. Dodd, 
Montclair, living; William H. Baldwin. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 67 

Drummers. — Frederick Collins, living; Charles H. 
Garabrant. 

Wagoners. — David Post ; Charles Twiggs. 

Privates. — John Ackerman, taken prisoner; Thomas 
Andrews ; Peter Arnolds, Montclair ; August Baldwin ; 
Joseph Baldwin, wounded in battle; George M. Ball, 
living ; Andrew Brady ; Egbert Bush, Caldwell ; James 
H. Cadmus ; Peter H. Cadmus ; Alfred T. H. Church ; 
Ephraim Cockefair ; John Collins ; Henry A. Corby, 
Montclair; William H. Corby, Montclair; Henry M. 
Crane, wounded in battle ; James B. Crane, Montclair, 
living ; Joseph G. Crowell ; Edwin Dodd ; Horace Dodd, 
living; Samuel W. Dodd; Eli Drew, living; Cornelius 
Delhagan, Montclair, living; Daniel Delhagan, living; 
George W. Ellis ; Hamilton W. Ellis, wounded in battle; 
Frederick Fairchild; Edson J. Fairchild; Edwin H. 
Freeman ; Frederick Fitchett ; Henry Glass, living ; John 
Gattschalk ; William Goud, Jr. ; William GrifFen ; Mon- 
row Harrison ; Ambrose F. Harvey, wounded in battle ; 
John Henieon, Caldwell, living ; Lewis Herrings, living ; 
Peter Angold, Montclair; Richard Jacobus, living; 
Charles Johnson, Montclair ; Balthaser Kentz ; Charles 
G. Keyler, living ; William Koroger ; Andrew Lampeter ; 
Charles Leist, Montclair ; Elias N. Bettell, Montclair ; 
Charles M. Lockwood, living; John A. Magill, wounded 
in battle ; Samuel Magill, living ; Michael Maher ; Theo- 
dore E. McGarry ; James J. Messeler, living; Robert 
A. Morris ; Michael Mullharion ; Joseph M. Osborn, 
wounded in battle, living; Stephen W. Penney, New- 
ark ; John D. Penn, Montclair ; George W. Post, Mont- 
clair ; Joseph W. Penn, Montclair ; Aaron R. Quimby, 
living ; William Riker, Montclair ; George Sidell ; Will- 
iam Simcox, wounded in battle, living ; Thomas Summer- 



68 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

vill; John W. Spear; John Speller; Henry Taylor, 
wounded ; Samuel Howell ; Charles Twiggs ; George 
Ungamah, Montclair ; John G. Vangeison ; Mortimer 
Whitehead, Montclair. 

Discharged from Service. — Newton Peaney, Newark, 
sick ; died same day. 

Died in Service. — John W. Wheeler, Montclair, killed 
in battle ; Henry Hoffman ; Charles Littell ; Peter Kings, 
Montclair. 

In order to memorialize these patriotic men, and all 
other Bloomfield soldiers and sailors who served in any 
of the wars of the past, there is being prepared a noble 
monument to be erected at this present (1912) cen- 
tennial celebration. It will stand on the small triangu- 
lar park at the corner of Broad and Franklin streets, 
and by its commanding position attract the eye of every 
passerby. Five generous contributions made possible 
this memorial, the amount reaching $3,000. With this 
encouraging start assured the required total came 
quickly. Bloomfield has added to its beauty by honor- 
ing the brave. 




" 6/\ILy"JAMLS<' TARN MAM <> 

Monument in Memory of the Citizens of Bioomfield who served in the Army and 
Navy of the United States. Erected in 191-2 in connection with the Cele- 
bration of the Centennial of the Incorporation of the Town 



INCORPORATION AND SUBSEQUENT 
GOVERNMENT 

By Raymond F. Davis 

Pkevious to the year 1812, Bloomfield, as well as 
many of the other municipalities of this section of the 
State, was a part of the Township of Newark. In 
1806 Newark was divided into three wards, called New- 
ark Ward, Orange Ward and Bloomfield Ward. Bloom- 
field Ward was unofficially subdivided into sections for 
convenience in designating particular localities. Among 
these we find Cranetown, Second River, Watsesson 
Plain, Newtown, Morris Neighborhood and Stone 
House Plain. Some of these names have been handed 
down and are still in use. 

This section of New Jersey was first settled in May, 
1666, by Colonists from Connecticut, and for one hun- 
dred and forty years all of the Newark territory ex- 
tending from the Orange Mountains to the Passaic 
River remained under one government. The township 
of Orange was set apart by the Legislature on Novem- 
ber 27, 1806, and then the inhabitants of the northern 
portion of the remaining Newark territory stirred 
themselves, and also decided that it would be advisable 
to have a separate government. As a result of this de- 
cision, on January 24, 1812, the Council and General 
Assembly of New Jersey passed an act setting off a new 
township from the Township of Newark, and incorpo- 
rated it by the name of "The inhabitants of the town- 
ship of Bloomfield in the County of Essex." This act, 
which is printed in an appendix in this volume, provided 

69 



70 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

that it should not be effective until the fourth Monday 
of March (March 23), 1812. The act further pro- 
vided that the first Town Meeting should be held at the 
house of Isaac Ward on the second Monday in April, 
1812. 

Hence, March 23, 1812, marks the beginning of 
Bloomfield's individual entity as an incorporated gov- 
ernment: and on April 12, 1812, the first meeting of 
Bloomfield's governing body was held. 

At these annual Town Meetings members of the 
Township Committee and other officers were elected, and 
various questions now decided by the Town Council were 
voted upon by all of the qualified voters present. 

This rather indefinite form of government was satis- 
factory at that time, for the wants of the community 
were few and the times were not particularly progres- 
sive. Bloomfield Township at this time contained the 
territory now comprising Montclair, Glen Ridge, 
Franklin, Nutley and Belleville, and part of the Wood- 
side, and Forest Hill, sections of Newark, with a total 
area of 20.52 square miles, as compared to the present 
area of 6.38 square miles. 

The Townships in those days were commonly sub- 
divided into villages. 

The New Jersey State Gazetteer of 1834 says, "The 
villages of the Township of Bloomfield are Belleville, 
Bloomfield, Spring Garden and Speertown," and gives 
the population of Bloomfield Village as 1,600 inhabit- 
ants. 

The tract known as Belleville, which had been called 
by that name since 1797, became a separate township 
in 1839, with a population of about 2,500 people, cut- 
tinjr Bloomfield's census in half. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 71 

In 1846 the New Jersey Legislature passed what is 
known as the Township Act of 1846, which specifically 
states that certain townships shall be governed thereby, 
among them Bloomfield. Others of Essex County in- 
cluded therein were Springfield, Clinton, Union, Belle- 
ville, Rahway, Westfield, New Providence, Ehzabeth, 
Orange, Caldwell, Livingston and Newark. Union 
County was not set off' from Essex until 1857. 

This statute of 1846 states that "All who are quali- 
fied by law to vote are directed and required to assemble 
and hold Town Meetings on the second Monday in April 
Annually." These meetings were held at noon, and 
notices were posted in four public places by the Town- 
ship Clerk, by order of the Township Committee, at least 
eight days previous to date of the meeting. 

At these meetings the following officers were elected: 

Five Freeholders, resident within the Township, to be 
denominated the "Township Committee." 

One Clerk, 

One or more Assessors, 

One or more Collectors, 

Three or more Freeholders to hear appeals from as- 
sessments, 

Two Chosen Freeholders, 

Two Surveyors of the Highways, 

One or more Overseers of the Poor, 

One or more Constables, 

As many pound keepers and overseers of the highways 
as necessary. 

One Judge of Election. 

All of the foregoing were elected for the term of one 
year. 



72 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

In this same year (1846) another act was passed by 
the Legislature entitled "An Act to authorize the in- 
habitants of the Township of Bloomfield, in the County 
of Essex, to vote by ballot at their town meetings." 

As a result of these two enactments the local govern- 
ment assumed a more definite form, and much more in- 
terest was taken in town matters by the inhabitants. 

In 1868 that part of Bloomfield formerly called West 
Bloomfield, or Cranetown, became incorporated as the 
Township of Montclair, taking nearly three thousand 
persons from the population of Bloomfield. Whitte- 
more's History of Montclair states that "The erection 
of Montclair as a separate township was occasioned by 
the refusal of the citizens of Bloomfield proper to con- 
sent to the bonding of the township of Bloomfield for 
the purpose of constructing the Montclair Railway." 

In 1871 Woodside left us, and shortly afterward 
(1874) Franklin established her independence. Still 
later, in 1895, the Borough of Glen Ridge went out. 
All this time the practical government of the township 
by the Township Committee was becoming more firmly 
established, and we find that two or three meetings of 
the Township Committee were held every month. 

The earliest official record of election is that of 1871, 
which shows the following officers elected, and appro- 
priations decided upon: 

Judge of Election .... Charles M. Davis. 

Assessor Joseph K. Oakes. 

Collector Joseph A. Davis, Jr. 

Clerk J. Banks Reford. 

Chosen Freeholders . . . Augustus T. Morris and Will- 
iam Cadmus. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 



73 



Surveyor of Highways 
Commis. of Appeal . . . 



Overseer of Poor . 
Town Committee 



Justice of the Peace, 
Constable 



For repair of Roads 
" Support of Poor 
" Contingencies . 

" Schools 

" Cross Walks . . 
Place of holding Elec- 
tions for the coming 
year 



Jos. K. Oakes and Nath'l H. 

Dodd. 
Warren S. Baldwin, David 
Oakes and Phineas J. Ward. 
. William R. Hall. 
Samuel Benson, Samuel Potter, 
James C. Beach, John Hall, 
Phineas J. Ward, John Sher- 
man, Abram Yerance. 
Peter Groshong. 
Charles S. Squire, Charles B. 
Hoff, J. Mahlon Walker, 
Charles Farrand. 
$6,000 
2,500 
, 3,500 

4 per Scholar. 
500 



Presbyterian Church Lecture 
Room. 



Since 1871 the following persons have served as town 
clerks : J. Banks Ref ord, 1872 ; John Fulf ord Folsom, 
1873-1877 ; Stephen Morris Hulin, 1878 ; Edwin West- 
lake, 1879-1881 ; E. F. Farrand, 1882-1891 ; William 
L. Johnson, 1892-1909; Raymond F. Davis, 1909-. 

Those who have been chairmen of the Township 
Committee or Town Council since 1890 are: Theodore 
H. Ward, 1890, 1900, 1901 ; Robert S. Rudd, 1891 ; 
James C. Beach, 1892-1893; William Ford Upson, 
1894; G. Lee Stout, 1895-1899. Councilmen-at-large, 
acting as chairmen, have been: George Peterson, 1902- 
1903; George Fisher, 1904. 



74 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

The mayors have been as follows : George Fisher, 
1905-1906; Wilham P. Sutphen, 1907-1910; WiUiam 
Hauser, 1911-1912. 

The following others were members of the town com- 
mittee or town council at various times from 1872 to 
1912 : Samuel J. Potter, Phineas J. Ward, Joseph A. 
Davis, John Sherman, Samuel Benson, Abram Year- 
ance, Joseph F. Sanxay, Christopher T. Unangst, 
Willard Richards, Cornelius Van Houten, Thomas 
Oakes, J. Banks Reford, Thomas E. Hayes, William 
F. Freeman, James W. Baldwin, Wesley B. Corby, 
John G. Keyler, William K. Williamson, Alfred Cocke- 
fair, Samuel Carl, Lewis Cockefair, Reuben N. Dodd, 
Stanford Farrand, Peter S. Cadmus, Henry K. Benson, 
N. H. Dodd, M. A. Dailcy, James Carter, William A. 
Baldwin, Frank S. Benson, Walter S. Freeman, George 
W. Cook, Charles L. Seibert, A. T. Van Gieson, Edwin 
A. Rayner, Sejnnour P. Gilbert, Charles H. Halfpenny, 
Martin Hummel, A. J. Lockwood, Charles W. Powers, 
Benjamin Haskell, John Lawrence, Frank Foster, 
Thomas H. Albinson, James H. Moore, Richard K. 
Schuyler, James M. Walker, George M. Wood, James 
J. Thompson, John R. Conlan, Wilber ]M. Brokaw, 
Herbert C. Farrand, W. F. Harrison, William Douglas 
Moore, Charles W. Chabot, Charles J, Murray, Jesse 
C. Green, William B. Hepburn, Frederic M. Davis, 
August Fredericks, Jr., George Hummel, James C. 
Brown, Lewis B. Harrison, Frederick Sadler, Henry 
Albinson, Frank N. Unangst. 

In 1883, owing to the many fires in and around 
Bloomfield Center, it was deemed necessary to have some 
regular fire protection, and in that year Essex Hook 
and Ladder Company No. 1 was organized. The fire 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 75 

truck arrived in Bloomfield on August 10, 1883, and an 
all day celebration took place, including a street parade 
and baseball games. 

The following year (1884) Phoenix Hose Company 
No. 1 was organized, and early in 1885 Active Hose 
Company No. 2 was established. At a meeting, held 
June 10, 1885, the Township Committee officially rec- 
ognized these fire companies, accepted their services, 
and assumed jurisdiction over the Bloomfield Fire De- 
partment and members thereof. 

In 1884 a system of water pipes was laid throughout 
the more densely populated sections of the township, 
and connected with the Orange Water Works. Water 
was sold to the inhabitants by the Orange Water Com- 
pany. 

Gas pipes were laid in the principal streets in 18T3 
by the Montclair Gas and Water Company, and this 
method of lighting the town continued until 1896, when 
a fifteen year franchise was granted to the Suburban 
Electric Light and Power Company for furnishing 
electric light. 

The sewer system was installed in 1893, at which time 
a contract was signed with Orange providing for the 
joint use of a Union Outlet Sewer. This agreement is 
still in force, and furnishes one of the complications in 
Bloomfield's consideration of the Passaic Valley Sewer 
project. The laying of the original sewer system 
necessitated a $50,000 bond issue, and extensions have 
been made from time to time as occasion demands. 
Altogether bonds have been issued to the amount of 
$100,000 for sewer purposes, many of which have been 
retired. 

On the 23d day of February, 1900, the New Jersey 



76 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Legislature passed an act incorporating the Town of 
Bloomfield which changed the form of government from 
a township to a town. Accordingly the then Township 
Committee reorganized as the Town Council on Febru- 
ary 26, 1900, and since that date Bloomfield has been 
governed by the provisions of the Town Act of 1895, 
which is entitled "An Act providing for the formation, 
establishment and government of towns," adopted 
March 7, 1895. 

After much debate by the inhabitants of the town, 
the water system, including all pipes, mains, fixtures, 
etc., was purchased in 1904 from the Orange Water 
Company at a cost of $90,000. The price originally 
asked was $150,000, but the Council succeeded in driv- 
ing a more advantageous bargain. 

The Montclair Water Company, a subsidiary of the 
East Jersey Water Company, now supplies the town 
with water under a contract which expires May 1, 
1925. 

The contract for lighting the streets of the town 
expired in 1911, and in November of that year a new 
agreement was entered into with the Public Service 
Lighting Company providing for arc lamps and 
incandescent lights to be supplied in such streets 
and locations as the Council may from time to time 
designate. This contract is effective .until March 1, 
1917. 

The governing body of the town has each year found 
problems more difficult to dispose of, and more numer- 
ous than those of former years. Such problems are, 
however, treated of in other pages. 

The elections as conducted at the present time are 
not the social gatherings that were those of sixty, or 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 77 

€ven thirty, years ago, and it is safe to predict that the 
next hundred years will see even greater changes. 

The officials of Bloomfield for the present year (1912) 
are as follows: Mayor, William Hauser; Clerk, Ray- 
mond F. Davis ; Councilmen, Charles J. Murray, Lewis 
B. Harrison, George Hummel, Frederick Sadler, Henry 
Albinson, Frank N. Unangst ; Collector, Frank Foster ; 
Treasurer, Harry L. Osborne ; Attorney, Charles F. 
Kocher ; Overseer of Poor, Adam Lind ; Physician, John 
D. Moore, M.D. ; Superintendent Public Works, Fred 
B. Stimis ; Superintendent Water Department, William 
R. Rawson ; Superintendent Fire Alarm Telegraph, 
A. F. Olsen; Engineer, Ernest Baechlin; Chief Fire 
Department, Bernard F. Higgins ; Chief of Police, 
Lewis M. Collins ; Recorder, George W. Cadmus ; 
Building Inspector, George M. Cadmus ; Board of As- 
sessors, George B. Milliken, Chairman, William R. 
Raab, Clerk, Robert D. Rawson ; Board of Health, 
James J. Thompson, President, Jacob S. Wolfe, M.D., 
Seymour P. Gilbert, William A. Ritscher, Jr., Joseph 
T. Charles, Joseph C. Saile, M.D., Secretary, Registrar 
of Vital Statistics, and Health Inspector. 



THE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS 

By William A. Baldwin 

Thk families of the early settlers from Branford and 
Milford, who in 1666 formed the Newark Colony upon 
the banks of the Passaic River, brought with them not 
only a deep religious feeling, but also a strong desire 
for the education of their children. 

In 1676 the town meeting of Newark authorized the 
townmcn to find a competent number of scholars and 
accommodations for a schoolmaster. Again, in 1693 
and 1695, two acts for establishing schoolmasters were 
passed. Under these acts schoolmasters were em- 
ployed, but there is no mention of a school-house until 
1714, when it was voted at a town meeting that "ye 
old floor of ye meeting-house should be made use of 
for ye making a floor in ye School house in the middle 
of ye Town." This school-house was probably built 
soon after the passage of the above acts for establish- 
ing schools. So much of the history of the Newark 
Colony is given because Bloomfield was at that time an 
outlying section of the Town of Newark, and subject 
to the same government. The outlying settlements soon 
after 1700 no doubt developed some form of instruc- 
tion independent of the incipient schools of Newark 
village. 

The first authentic record of a school-house in 
Bloomfield is on the foundation stone of the Watsessing 
Hill school-house which announces that the original 
building was erected in 1758, and its addition on the 
east side in 1782. Both parts were built of stone. It 

78 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 79 

remained standing till 1852, when it made place for the 
house of Jay L. Adams. Its location was near the 
corner of Franklin Street and Willard Avenue. Like 
all schools of the time it must have been small, perhaps 
15 feet by 25 feet in size, poorly heated, and furnished 
with low benches and cheap desks ; nor was it free to 
all, but only to those who could aflPord to pay the small 
tuition fee required. 

Before its destruction the Baptist congregation, then 
forming, used this school building for a temporary 
meeting place. The corner-stone, long preserved by the 
late Joseph B. Maxfield, with its dates 1758 for the 
original structure and 1782 for the extension, is now 
preserved in the interior foundation wall of the new 
(1911) Baptist Church. The inscription on the stone 
is hke this: "The West End of This House Built in 
1758, The East End in the Year 1782." 

The school bell, which hung on the top and near the 
rear end of this building, is now in the old high school, 
having been presented by the late William Cadmus. It 
is not improbable, in fact it is a persistent tradition, 
that, like the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, it rang out 
its peal for liberty when the news was brought that the 
Declaration of Independence had been signed. A dif- 
ferent account, stating that the bell was later used to 
announce the approach of trains at the old Newark 
and Bloomfield, now the Delaware, Lackawanna and 
Western Railroad depot, and afterward found an hon- 
ored place in the belfry of the Episcopal Church, is 
erroneous. The bell used at the railroad and in the 
Episcopal Church was gotten by a Mr. Smith from the 
burned tug Isaac Newton. 

At some time long before 1780, Thomas Davis gave 



80 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

a quarter acre of land for a school-house site "near 
the home of Captain John Ogden," near the present 
corner of Franklin and Montgomery streets. But in 
1782 Caleb and Joseph Davis exchanged for the quarter 
acre a new half-acre lot at the corner of the Newtown 
Road. On this new site was placed, at about 1782, 
a log school-house, which was there in 1801, when 
Alexander Wilson taught school, but was later burned 
and a small stone structure took its place. It may 
be seen back of the church in the engraving in 
the article on Bloomfield in Barber and Howe's "New 
Jersey Historical Collections," 1844, and also as 
reproduced in this book. After sixty-seven years 
the half -acre lot was enlarged by additional purchases 
on the east side. The little stone school-house 
gave way in 1849 to a substantial brick building 
located on the recently acquired addition, and the 
school-house site of 1782 became a portion of the 
present school playground behind the Presbyterian 
Church. 

The Union School was situated at the comer of Mor- 
ris Place and Franklin Avenue in the Morris neighbor- 
hood. A deed, given in 1845 by Stephen Morris to 
James Morris, Albert Morris, James Ball, Charles Os- 
born and Warren S. Baldwin, describes this property as 
already having the Union School-house upon it. Joshua 
C. Brokaw was the last teacher employed at this school 
previous to the enactment in 1849 of the free-school 
law, when it was merged with the Central School. Later 
Mrs. Isaac H. Day and Mrs. Pearson taught there a 
few scholars, using the building as a private school and 
charging a small fee. Town elections were afterward 
held there, and also religious services and occasional 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 81 

public gatherings of a political or social nature. The 
building was finally torn down. 

The only pupil of whom we have definite knowledge 
as connected with the Bloomfield schools before 1790 
was the boy, Stephen Dodd, then eleven years of age, 
who went to school at Watsessing Hill, or, as it was 
then probably called, the Franklin School-house. One 
of his teachers was, no doubt, Isaac Sergeant, whose 
name as schoolmaster at Wardsesson appears ^s a sub- 
scriber for twelve copies of "Newton on the Prophe- 
cies," published in 1787, at Elizabeth Town. Probably 
he re-sold the books in the neighborhood. Alexander 
Wilson, the celebrated ornithologist, was for about six 
months in 1801 the teacher in the upper school-house 
near the Presbyterian Church. Amzi Armstrong, a 
young man seventeen years of age, taught on Watses- 
sing Hill in 1788 or 1789. He came from Florida, 
New York, and twenty years later, as Dr. Amzi Arm- 
strong, became the successful principal of the academy. 
He studied theology under the Rev. Jedediah Chapman 
of Orange, while he was teaching in the Franklin 
School-house, and was called to be pastor of the Mend- 
ham Presbyterian Church in 1796. One of his success- 
ors was the son of Mr. Armstrong's former pastor at 
Florida, Amzi Lewis, Jr., who was teaching here in 
1810; with him was associated Amos Holbrook. These 
taught in the two school-houses, alternating a month 
or so at a time. Other teachers in the Stone School by 
the church were M. D. Thomas, from Connecticut, who 
married a daughter of Mrs. Jane Dodd ; Philander Sey- 
mour, who married Eliza Cadmus ; D. Lathrop, and 
James Shields, who later became United States Senator 
from Illinois. 



82 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Soon after the beginning of the nineteenth century 
and long before the pubHc school system came into 
operation, there opened In Bloomfield what is now known 
as the academy period. A number of these educational 
institutions, and they were of the best character, were 
maintained in the village. 

The Academy (now the German Theological Semi- 
nary) was projected in 1807, and sufficiently furnished 
in 1810 for the reception of students. It was an un- 
usual enterprise among the academies of the day. Its 
object was the education of young men for the min- 
istry, and it was closely identified with the interests of 
the Old First Church. It seems in its day quite to have 
surpassed in reputation the academies of Newark and 
Orange, whose organizations preceded It. It absorbed 
the attention of the town, and as all schools then were 
conducted on the plan of the payment of a tuition fee, 
the Academy at first and afterward the Academy and 
Madame Cooke's school for girls quite overshadowed 
the common pay schools. It was built by "a society 
for the promotion of literature," and "for the purpose 
of building an academy," upon joint stock subscrip- 
tions In shares of twenty-five dollars each. Its mas- 
sive brick walls have since been adorned with a mansard 
roof, and its color made more pleasing to the eye. 
Amzl Lewis, Jr., became the first principal, and was 
followed by Rev. Humphrey Mount Ferine and Rev. 
John Ford. The students of the classical department 
were from thirty to forty in number, young men of 
mature age who assisted In conducting the morning 
devotions. The primary department In the front base- 
ment numbered at that time about seventy-five pupils. 
Its graduates Included many who afterward became 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 83 

ministers, doctors of medicine, lawyers, and teachers. 
The Academy as thus conducted had a successful course 
of twenty-two years, when, because of two attacks of 
smallpox among the students, and certain other compli- 
cations, it was closed. It was afterward conducted as a 
private school until 1866, the latter part of the time 
under the management of James H. Rundall as prin- 
cipal. From him it was purchased by the Board of 
Directors of the German Theological School. It is 
now occupied as a seminary for students of various 
nationalities, with academic and theological depart- 
ments. 

During the latter part of the academic period the 
Bloomfield Female Seminary was organized. A build- 
ing facing the Common, near where the residence of 
Hon. Amzi Dodd now stands, was erected in 1836 for 
$6,000 by an association of gentlemen. Madame 
Cooke's School, as it was familiarly called, was expected 
to do for the young ladies of the toAvn what the Acad- 
emy had been doing for the young men. Mrs. Harriet 
Cooke had taught in Vermont, and in Augusta, Georgia. 
For eighteen years her seminary in Bloomfield was the 
center of a powerful intellectual and religious influ- 
ence. Being a woman of strong and penetrating mind, 
and possessing great decision of character, together 
with quick insight, profound sympathy and deep piety, 
Mrs. Cooke had a strong influence over teachers, 
scholars and families. The celebrity of her school be- 
came established. Her rooms were filled with incomers, 
and her day desks with the girls and young ladies of 
the vicinity. 

In Mrs. Cooke's "Memories of My Lifework," writ- 
ten by her late in life, she states that 1850 pupils had 



84 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

attended her school, sixteen of the teachers and students 
had become foreign missionaries, and many others had 
become teachers and home missionaries. During the 
period extending from 1847 to 1861, Rev. Ebenezer 
Seymour conducted a boarding and day school for boys 
and girls upon Beach Street, at the corner of Spruce, 
the location of which was later changed to a building 
on Belleville Avenue. This building was afterwards 
used for the Erie Railroad depot, and stood just west 
of the railroad. 

A school for boys, under the management of Charles 
M. Davis, was situated on Liberty Street, comer of 
Spruce Street, from 1851 to 1868. Here many of the 
sons of wealthy New York families, sons of missionaries, 
as well as young men from the town, received their edu- 
cation. The growing efficiency of the public schools 
making it difficult to conduct a private school with 
profit, caused the closing of this school as well as other 
private schools which had flourished up to this time in 
Bloomfield. 

The beginning of the free school system which we 
shall now consider is distinctly marked by the enact- 
ment of a special school law for the Township of Bloom- 
field. This law was enacted in 1849, and with it began a 
period of concentration and more thorough graduation. 
There had previously been four school districts in the 
township: The Central, the Union, the Franklin, and 
the Stone House Plains district. The Central and Union 
were now united in a strong organization, later known 
as the Central Union school district number seven. The 
Franklin district was absorbed. 

The Stone House Plains district, comprising all that 
part of the township about five hundred feet north of 




o 
o 

a 

< 

Q 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 85 

Bay Avenue, conducted its own school. It was known 
as school district number six. 

The first school known to exist in Brookdale, then 
called Stone House Plains, was erected during the last 
quarter of the eighteenth century. It was a frame struc- 
ture and stood on the lot opposite the present home of 
Alexander Parsons. The furnishings of this building 
were of the crudest sort, such as were to be found in 
all of the schools of that day. They consisted of pine 
desks, ranged on the sides of the room and running the 
entire length, with benches made of rough boards, with 
holes bored in them at each end for the insertion of the 
legs. Other benches, with backboards, were provided 
for the use of the smaller children. These had no desks 
attached to them, and were placed in the middle of the 
room. A big Franklin stove for burning wood was 
used for heating. The school at that time was open 
only three or four months of the year, and was a pay 
school. The ground had been given by Peter Garra- 
brant, who owned considerable property in this section. 
The first teacher in this school was a Mr. Schermerhorn. 
Starr Parsons also taught for some time, being followed 
by Silas Merchant — who taught until the building was 
burned in 1835, when he moved to the Center School, 
near where the old High School building now stands. 
As the location of the Stone House Plains school was not 
central, another plot was acquired where the old Brook- 
dale school building is now situated. This was also 
a frame structure and was plainly furnished. It was 
continued as a pay school until about 1849, J. William 
E. Davidson being the last instructor. 

Moses W. Wisewell was one of the first to have 
charge of Brookdale after it became a free school. 



86 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Mrs. Margaret B. Jones, mother of Theodore Jones of 
Upper Broad Street, then known as Margaret Anna 
Burgess, also taught in this school about this time. 
Among those who served as trustees were Simeon Brown, 
Sylvanus Cockefair, Tunis Garrabrant, James G. Van 
Winkle, and Charles E. Davidson. About 1857 the 
frame structure was torn down, and one of brick erected 
at a cost of eleven hundred dollars. In 1885 an addition 
was made which doubled the capacity of the school. 
The whole building was better equipped, and a more 
satisfactory heating plant was installed. When the dis- 
trict in 1901 was merged in the town by an act of the 
Legislature, further improvements were made. It con- 
tinued in use as a school until the new building was com- 
pleted in 1910. It is now being used temporarily as a 
hose-house for the Brookdale Fire Department. 

Coming back to the Central-Union district we find 
that after the enactment of the State School Law of 
1849 the two school-houses in this district, the Frank- 
lin and the Central, were respectively sold and removed, 
the Central's lot in the rear of the Presbyterian Church 
doubled in size, the enlarged space appropriated for a 
playground, an adjoining lot on Belleville Avenue se- 
cured for a new school site, and a building erected at 
once. 

"During this year (1849)," writes one who was then 
trustee, "the authorities set to work earnestly to build 
a school-house. The dimensions of this building were 
to be 32 by 64 feet. It was to be two stories high and 
built of brick, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars, 
which in those days appeared to many a great waste 
of money. They had never seen a common school with 
more than thirty or forty scholars, and why should so 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 87 

many seats be provided to be left empty? But one year 
was enough to convince the most incredulous that the 
building was none too large, for soon additions had to 
be made." The vote, as appears by the record, to build 
this building at the large cost of $2,500, was a very 
creditable one, standing thirty-six in favor to seven 
against. It is interesting to notice that the year be- 
fore the free school law was obtained, the whole num- 
ber of scholars in attendance was thirty-five at a cost of 
tuition for each scholar of two dollars per quarter ; 
while the number in attendance the year after the free 
school law went into operation was one hundred and 
ninety-six, at a cost to the district of one dollar and 
thirty cents per quarter for each scholar. 

The new Central Building was afterward enlarged, 
and stood for twenty-one years, until rebuilt in 1871. 
According to records left by Lewis B. Hardcastle, these 
schools were divided into a "Male Department," "Fe- 
male Department," and the "Primary Department." 
The latter two were on the first floor, the former on the 
second floor. Mr. Hardcastle was the first principal 
of the male department, with James Stevens as assist- 
ant. There is also a record that in August, 1850, 
George A. Oakes, then fifteen years old, was dismissed 
from school to enter upon the duties of an assistant 
teacher. This department had an attendance of one 
hundred and fifteen boys from six to fifteen years of 
age. 

Miss Dean was principal of the Female Department, 
for a few months assisted by Miss Virginia McCracken. 
On November 4, 1850, Miss Ann E. Sturdivant took 
charge. Although but nineteen years of age, she is 
remembered as a bright and competent teacher, who 



88 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

did much for the school, training the pupils especially 
in reading, declamation, singing and mathematics. This 
school numbered eighty-seven girls, their ages ranging 
from six to fifteen years. 

Miss Lydia Neal was the first principal of the pri- 
mary department. She was assisted by Miss Caroline 
Morris, daughter of James Morris, and later wife of 
Uzal T. Hayes. Miss Caroline Ball, afterward Mrs. 
Walter Freeman, also taught in this school. Other teach- 
ers were Miss Caroline Sanford, and Miss Mary Huhn, 
now Mrs. James M. Walker. During the first year 
the pupils of five to nine years of age numbered one 
hundred and forty-one, the various departments total- 
ing three hundred and forty-three. The average at- 
tendance was about two hundred. 

At the time this free school was established, as indi- 
cated above, there were four large boarding schools in 
Bloomfield. The boys and girls of the village had been 
accustomed to attend these "select" schools as day 
pupils, paying a small sum each quarter for tuition ; 
therefore they spoke disparagingly of the new public 
school as a "free" school. Previous to this time also 
the common schools of this town, as elsewhere through- 
out the State except in the large cities, were pay schools ; 
each scholar paying two dollars per quarter tuition, the 
school being principally supported by this fee. School- 
houses were entirely built, and largely kept in repair, 
by private or individual subscriptions. The laws of the 
State permitted the raising of a tax on the property 
of the district for fuel and incidental expenses, the 
amount not to exceed double the amount raised each 
year for the support of the poor of the town. If in 
any township, therefore, the inhabitants were not liberal 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 89 

enough to subscribe a sufficient amount to build a 
school-house, the only alternative was to do without 
one, and such was the sad condition of many towns in 
our State. 

Because of the sentiment against the new free schools, 
public exercises were held October, 1850, In the "Old 
Church on the Green" to exhibit the work of this local 
school. The large audience was entertained by sing- 
ing and recitations, and by motion songs by the primary 
children. The pupils also sang for the first time pub- 
licly "The Star Spangled Banner." 

Dr. Joseph Austin Davis was the first Town Super- 
intendent of Schools. The first trustees were David 
Oakes, Warren S. Baldwin, Albert M. Matthews, Jr., 
and John L. Cooke, son of Madame Cooke. The fol- 
lowing superintendents and principals have been em- 
ployed : 

Dr. Joseph Austin Davis 1850 

Lewis B. Hardcastle 1850-1852 

Warren Holden 1852 

E. H. Hallock 1852-1854 

Mr. Pennington 1854 

Mr. Ward 1855 

Henry Austin Ventres 1855-1865 

John R. McDevItt 1865-1868 

John W. West 1868-1870 

Frank H. Morrell 1870-1871 

J. Henry Root 1871-1880 

Benjamin Mason 1880-1881 

John R. Dunbar 1881-1897 

Winiam E. Chancellor 1897-1904 

George Morris 1904 

Of the principals, Mr. Morrell is now Supervising 



90 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Principal in Irvington. Mr. Root, formerly principal 
of Greenwich Academy in Connecticut, is residing in 
Bloonifield. Mr. Dunbar, after teaching in one of the 
Brookh'U high schools for a number of years, is also 
living here. Superintendent Chancellor, who came to 
Bloomfield from a position as head of the history de- 
partment in Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, has 
since filled the position of Superintendent of Schools in 
Paterson, N. J., and Washington, D. C. He is now 
filling a similar position in South Norwalk, Conn. 

Five of the former teachers of the High School have 
reached positions of considerable prominence in educa- 
tional work. Everett S. Stackpole became President of 
the American Theological Seminary in Florence, Italy ; 
John F. Woodhull, Professor in the Teachers College 
in New York City ; Herbert C. Hamilton, Professor 
of English in Amherst College; Clarence F. Perkins, 
Professor of History, University of Missouri ; and 
George C. Clancy, Professor of English in the Uni- 
versity of Syracuse. 

The longest term of service of any teacher has been 
that of Miss Samantha Wheeler, who was retired in 
1900 on a pension from the State Teachers' Retirement 
Fund, after forty-two years of service. Since that time 
the following teachers have been retired on pensions 
after long years of service, viz. : Mrs.- Mary L. Ellen- 
wood, ]\Iiss Kate F. Hubbard, Miss Edith E. Hulin, 
Miss Anna Baird, Miss Jennie Baird and Miss Mary M. 
Draper. Many teachers are still in service whose names 
are enrolled in the grateful memory of their pupils. 

Among the trustees have been David Oakes, Warren 
S. Baldwin (who served twenty-three years), Artemus 
N. Baldwin, James Morris, Robert L. Cook, Dr. Joseph 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 91 

A. Davis, Eliphalet Hall, Abraham H. Cadmus, Cha- 
brier Peloubet (who served thirty-three years), Albert 
Matthews, Samuel Carl, Daniel H. Temple, E. W. 
Page, Edmund Smith, Dr. William H. White, John 
Sherman (who served fifteen years), Joseph Hague, 
J. W. Snedeker, Rev. Dr. A. C. Frissell, A. T. Morris, 
V. G. Thomas, M. W. Dodd, W. J. Williamson, C. W. 
Maxfield, Andrew Ellor, S. Morris Hulin, F. C. Bliss, 
Henry Russell, Thomas Oakes (who has served thirty- 
two years and is still in office), William A. Baldwin 
(elected in 1880 and still on the Board), Frederick H. 
Pilch, A. H. Edgerley, Samuel Peloubet, J. Banks 
Reford, Edward G. Ward, Charles L. Seibert, Frederick 
R. Pilch, George W. Pancoast, A. J. Lockwood, Dr. 
John E. Wilson, Dr. J. S. Wolfe, Charles F. Kocher, 
Dr. William R. Broughton, Frank B. Stone, G. E. 
Bedell, C. H. Madole, Samuel Ellor, and Joseph F. 
Vogelius. The present Board of Education is organ- 
ized with the following members and committees : 

President — Thomas Oakes. 

Vice-President — Frederic M. Davis. 

Committee on Finance and Supplies — Clarence Van 
Winkle, William A. Baldwin, Secretary of Board. 

Committee on Instruction — Frederick R. Pilch, Mor- 
gan D. Hughes, Frederic M. Davis. 

Committee on Buildings — Charles Martin, James C. 
Brown, Arthur A. Ellor. 

In some historical notes former Superintendent Will- 
iam E. Chancellor makes the following statement: "In 
"the history of the schools the most prominent men have 
been Charles M. Davis, for twenty-five years County 
Superintendent and afterward Superintendent of 
Schools in Bayonne, who always stood for progress in 



92 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Bloomfield, where five generations of his family were 
born ; Chabrier and Samuel Peloubet, David and Thomas 
Oakes, Warren S. and William A. Baldwin, and Fred- 
erick H. and Frederick R. Pilch. During the 'panic' 
years, after 1873, John Sherman, then Treasurer, did 
great service to the schools by securing large loans for 
the payment of the teachers' salaries in cash, rather than 
in warrants, a course which nearly all schools then 
adopted." 

Following the organization of the schools previously 
described, the appropriations made by the district were 
small and sometimes grudgingly given, while little or 
no aid was received from the State. The furniture in 
use was of a primitive character, consisting of old- 
fashioned benches and desks, classes were not graded, 
and teachers were without special training. Whips and 
other instruments of punishment were freely used. 

In the northeast comer of the Central School build- 
ing, on the upper floor, was a room where, after school, 
boys were sent for punishment ; and where the birch was 
freely applied to hands and knees by the principal. 
On one occasion a large boy seated near the door was 
struck by the principal, at which, gathering up his 
books, he took his slate and sent it skimming across the 
building in the direction of the teacher. It stuck in the 
wall, while he passed out of the school -never to return. 
Scenes like this were not of frequent occurrence. This 
incident is told to show the evil passions aroused by 
corporal punishment, which has now been wisely pro- 
hibited by law. 

Music was not a regular branch of instruction, but 
was taught by the teachers, as they were able, with some 
voluntary help from outsiders. Among those who gave 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 93 

occasional instructions of this kind was the popular 
composer of Sunday-school music, William B. Brad- 
bury. His genial manner and earnestness aroused the 
scholars to unusual effort, and he was voted a great 
success as a leader. He was also very popular because 
of his uniform kindness to the pupils. On one occasion 
he purchased and distributed to the scholars on the 
green in front of the school-house large pieces of water- 
melon, which treat, of course, they greatly enjoyed. 

During the latter portion of this early period (1850 
to 1872), the modern graded system of instruction was 
developed which culminated in 1872 in a High School. 
This was preceded in 1871 by the erection of the pres- 
ent High School building, at a cost of thirty thousand 
dollars. 

The first published report of the Board of Educa- 
tion was printed in 1872. It contained a full account 
of the new building, which was considered well designed 
and up-to-date. The ventilating system was thought 
to be perfect, but it subsequently proved to be worthless. 

In 1872 the first steps toward establishing a high 
school were taken. The plan as adopted and set forth 
in the printed report of 1872 was as follows: 

"First. The High School is established to provide 
those scholars who have completed the studies of the 
Grammar School with an opportunity of pursuing more 
advanced studies, and obtaining a higher English and 
Classical education. 

"Second. The teacher must be a graduate of some 
respectable college. 

"Third. Candidates for admission to the High School 
must make application during the week preceding the 



94 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

close of the summer vacation. Candidates must be of 
good moral character, they must pass a satisfactory ex- 
amination in spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, 
English grammar, geography, and history of the United 
States." 

These requirements were reasonable, and if always 
insisted upon, would prevent criticism of the public 
schools for neglect of the fundamentals. We believe, 
however, that the policy so early laid down has been, 
in the Bloomfield High School, faithfully followed ever 
since. The first class in the High School began on 
January 3, 1873, with twenty-two members. At the 
close of the school year the trustees reported that the 
establishment of the high school class has already ex- 
erted a healthful influence upon the grammar schools, 
as shown in the increased diligence of the pupils and in 
the care they had taken in the monthly examinations, 
and in a more uniform attendance. They also added 
that the high school department will undoubtedly raise 
the standard of education to so great a degree that 
enough pupils will be found in each graduating class 
to supply the want of new teachers as the exigencies of 
the district may require. In this last statement we see 
that the teaching force was far inferior to that now 
secured, when none but graduates of normal schools and 
collegesi with one or more years of -experience, are 
placed in charge of classes. Out of the twenty-two 
scholars who started in 1872, eleven graduated in 1876. 
A few each year continued to graduate until 1879, 
when the Greenback party was successful at the polls, 
and the trustees then elected reduced both the number 
and the salaries of the teachers, and changed the course 
of study in the schools very materially. The next year 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 95 

new trustees were elected for a terai of three years 
under a new law, and the schools again moved forward 
along progressive lines. For three years no pupils were 
graduated from the High School; but later, under the 
efficient guidance of John B. Dunbar as principal, and 
a board of trustees having the confidence of the com- 
munity, and reasonbly secure in their offices, the High 
School took a strong position from which it has never 
since been driven. The average attendance of the Bloom- 
field schools at that time was four hundred, about twice 
what it was in 1850-1855. The net enrollment was five 
hundred and seventy-two. Boys and girls recited to- 
gether. This was an innovation, for in former years 
the sexes had been entirely separated. The school 
library was begun in 1874 by Mr. Stackpole, then a 
teacher under Principal Root. The first course of study 
to be printed was published in the same year. In 1876 
boundaries were first established between the schools, 
and an exhibit was sent to the Centennial Exhibition in 
Philadelphia. In this same year systematic examina- 
tions, designed to enforce upon teachers and scholars 
the exact requirements of the course of study, were first 
introduced. 

In 1878 the parochial school of the parish of the 
Sacred Heart was opened. This relieved temporarily 
the greatly overcrowded condition of the schools. 

In 1883 the Center Primary School on Liberty Street 
was built at a cost of ten thousand dollars. 

In 1888 departments of penmanship and drawing 
were introduced, and the course of music, which had 
been taught in the school for many years, was im- 
proved. The nature study course was also greatly im- 
proved in this year, and a very successful fair was held 



96 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

netting eight hundred dollars, for the purchase of vari- 
ous apparatus for use in the schools. At this period 
there was carried on much industrial work in the nature 
of manual training. 

In 1891 the High School course was revised for a 
three-years' course of instruction, and the subjects were 
made partly elective. 

In 1892 the Berkeley School was re-built at a cost of 
about twenty thousand dollars, replacing the original 
Berkeley primary school, built in 1868. Again, in 
1909, an addition of eight class-rooms made it the larg- 
est school building in the town. In 1893 four rooms 
were also added to the Center School. 

In 1896 Board of Health rules relating to contagious 
diseases were first applied, to the marked benefit of the 
schools ; and in the same year the present four years' 
course in the High School was established by taking a 
grade out of the grammar school, and adding it with 
certain changes to the High School. Following these 
changes kindergartens were added, the English course 
was extended, and the departmental system introduced 
in the grammar classes. Laboratories were also placed 
in the High School for science instruction. Manual 
training was introduced for all classes, embracing de- 
partments of drawing, raffia and basket work, cooking, 
wood-working, and metal-working. Evening schools 
were started providing instruction in the English 
branches, also typewriting, stenography and mechanical 
drawing. In recent years classes in English for adults 
of foreign birth who wish to learn the language of their 
adopted country have been added, also classes in wood- 
working, cooking and electricity for such students. 

Neighborhood clubs were organized to promote the 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 97 

harmonious working of the schools by bringing teachers 
and parents into closer touch, and increasing neighbor- 
hood pride in the schools. Free lecture courses are 
given each winter, which furnish much instruction and 
entertainment. A summer school is carried on in one 
neighborhood largely populated by foreigners, where 
the pupils devote a few hours each day to manual train- 
ing and the common English branches, the work in 
English being very helpful to them when the studies of 
the regular school year are taken up. 

An event of importance in the history of the schools 
was the formation in 1895 of the Borough of Glen 
Ridge out of Bloomfield Township, which took away 
several hundred children. This reduced the number of 
graduates in the high school for a time ; but the public 
spirit which was aroused helped wonderfully to advance 
the interests of the schools, as the success of the project 
to build three new eight-roomed buildings in 1898 
plainly showed. Up to this time there had been only 
four school buildings in the district : The High School, 
as it was called, although it was also used for grammar 
and primary pupils for many years ; the Berkeley, built 
in 1868, and remodeled in 1892; the Center on Liberty 
Street ; and the old Brookside, a small two-roomed 
building put up in 1868. The three new buildings, 
called Brookside, Fairview, and Watsessing, contrary 
to general expectation, were soon filled with scholars, 
and additions have since been added to each, making 
them fourteen-roomed schools. Because of the low 
price of material and labor at the time they were built 
they have proved an unusually good investment. Fol- 
lowing this, as previously mentioned, the Center School, 
in 1893, was rebuilt with twelve rooms, and the Berkeley, 



98 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

in 1909, was doubled in size. All these schools are ar- 
ranged in the most approved manner, with an efficient 
ventilating and heating system, large assembly halls, 
single seats and desks, and lighted by electricity. 
Finally a modern up-to-date building has been erected 
in Brookdale, upon the same plan and with the same 
improvements as the other schools, leaving the town in 
possession of six fine school buildings with all the latest 
appliances as follows: Berkeley, Brookside, Center, 
Brookdale, Fairview, and Watsessing. These are all 
for primary and grammar grades. One locality yet re- 
mains to be supplied, and for the Silver Lake School, 
for which a good lot has been purchased on Grove 
Street, there will be erected a modem building similar 
to the others. 

When all these improvements for the lower grades 
had been completed, the demand for a new high school 
of sufficient size to accommodate all the scholars became 
irresistible. An appropriation was readily secured, and 
the land at the southwest corner of Broad Street and 
Belleville Avenue purchased. Plans were prepared by 
Charles Granville Jones, the architect since 1892 of all 
the school buildings, and a contract for its construction 
made. The building, now almost completed, is of stone 
and brick, four stories in height. When this building 
is occupied the high school will, for the first time in its 
history, be provided with all the necessary facilities for 
its work, including lecture, study, and recitation rooms ; 
physical, chemical, and biological laboratories ; manual 
training rooms, a gymnasium, and a large assembly 
hall to seat one thousand and capable of meeting all the 
requirements for public speaking, plays, graduating 
exercises, and serving various other uses. By far the 




o 
o 

X 
o 

in 

X 

o 



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o 
o 

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BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 99 

largest hall in the town, centrally located, having 
ample entrances and exits, and surrounded by practi- 
cally a fireproof building, it is admirably adapted for 
public gatherings of a patriotic, political, or social 
character. Such a hall has long been needed and will 
be greatly appreciated. 

We have reached the limits of our history. A closing 
word is all that is necessary. Bloomfield has no need 
to apologize for either her past or present educational 
history. In the early part of the past century she was 
the educational center of the cities and towns of the 
East. The students taught in her pay schools and 
academies adorned every profession, and were known 
throughout the land. No less distinguished are many 
of those later graduated from her free schools. It 
might be well for us to ask ourselves this question: 
Have we now reached the limit of achievement in school 
work? The answer will be, "By no means." Every 
system is productive of some good results. The pio- 
neers, who sat at the feet of the schoolmaster in rooms 
lacking every comfort, came into close contact with 
men of learning and refinement, getting an inspiration 
which is often lacking in our larger classes. Again, 
the scholars of what might be called the academy 
period, when private schools were flourishing, had the 
advantage of meeting- children of cultivated families 
brought together in such pay schools, and thus were 
made to feel that their opportunities should not be 
wasted. Classes were also small, and consequently bet- 
ter graded than is possible in the schools as at present 
carried on. With smaller classes, and more experienced 
teachers it would be possible to do better work. 

The schools of to-day are for the milHons. They 



100 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

spread intelligence and patriotism among the masses as 
no other institution can. They have broader courses 
of study than those provided in earlier times, and are 
meeting the needs of boys and girls of many races and 
tongues. They will develop in a way to provide edu- 
cation for a complex civilization, which must have 
workers for the farms, the shops and the factories, as 
well as for the professions. 

The record of Bloomfield has been one of consistent 
and carefully considered progress, step by step, almost 
without a break from the beginning. Recent history 
justifies the belief that the people of to-day are ready 
to meet the larger responsibilities, and the greater needs 
of the present, in the same spirit of generosity and 
courage as that exhibited by their predecessors, when 
with scanty means they opened their first school for the 
education of the community. 

Bloomfield is justly proud of its large and well-or- 
ganized school system, embracing eight schools, and pre- 
sided over by more than one hundred teachers, having 
under their control about three thousand pupils, of 
whom over three hundred are in the High School. The 
time is fast approaching when people will realize that 
teaching is not a calling to be used merely as a stepping 
stone to something else more profitable. The self- 
sacrificing work done in the class-room will soon be bet- 
ter paid, and much of the talent now devoted to other 
labor will be attracted to the school-room, and the work 
of the teacher will rise to the dignity of a profession. 



TRANSPORTATION 

By Charles C. Ferguson 

It is a long cry from the "gee-ha" of the ox driver 
to the "honk" of the automobile. Nearly two and one- 
half centuries intervene between the primitive and pres- 
ent day methods of transportation, and each progres- 
sive step has been in the direction of the elimination of 
time, the increase in carrying capacity ; and, in the mat- 
ter of passenger transportation, the promotion of the 
comfort and convenience of the traveling public. 

The same successive steps in transition of methods of 
transportation that have contributed to the successful 
development of the United States, have all been experi- 
enced, and participated in, by the successive generations 
that have inhabited the particular section of the State of 
New Jersey and County of Essex, known as the Town 
of Bloomfield, and which, in this year 1912, is celebrat- 
ing the Centennial anniversary of its organization as a 
municipality. 

The Newark and Pompton Turnpike, in 1806 ; the 
Morris Canal, in 1831 ; the Newark and Bloomfield 
Railroad, in 1855 ; the street car line, in 1867, have 
been the essential features in the evolution of the su- 
perior transportation advantages that the present-day 
Bloomfielder enjoys as compared with those of the 
pioneer settlers. 

A suspicion of witchcraft no longer applies to Mother 
Shipton's prophecy, "Carriages without horses shall 
run," and Tennyson's vision of "the heavens filled with 
commerce" is on the verge of becoming more than a 

lOI 



102 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

poet's dream. Aerial navigation, however, belongs to a 
"higher realm" of transportation, and does not yet 
enter into the calculations of the practical business man 
of to-day. 

It is but natural that a centennial period should 
arouse the reflective faculties, and a proper comparison 
and appreciation of what is now with what has been 
can only be reached by looking backward. 

The problem of transportation in its earliest stage 
in this vicinity was an individual matter, the needs of 
commerce, and the traveling public did not enter into it. 
Few people traveled very far from home. 

A religious compact was the foundation stone of 
Newark settlement in the latter half of the seventeenth 
century, and compulsory attendance at "town meetings" 
was a political obligation resting upon every settler, 
and the taking of grist to the mill was a necessity of 
life, and the transportation question resolved itself into 
a way to get to church, to town meeting, and to the 
mill. 

The ox team and bolster wagon were the means of 
conveyance, and a trail along the line of least resistance 
was the primitive highway. The "old road to Newark," 
now Franklin Street, is conceived to be among the 
earliest of the trails or roads traversed by the pioneer 
settlers of Bloomfield, and the road through Belleville 
to Watsessing Dock on the Passaic River, the first high- 
way of a commercial character. 

When, in the course of events, in the early part of 
the eighteenth century, a business necessity, or a desire 
to see the world, prompted an early Bloomfielder to take 
a trip to New York, the method of transportation was 
by wagon to Watsessing Dock, and from thence by sloop 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 103 

down the Passaic. Schedule time did not figure in the 
trip. Wind and tide, and not steam or electricity, were 
the predominant factors in determining the time con- 
sumed in the trip. 

Saw mills and grist mills first introduced the indus- 
trial element into transportation hereabouts, and the 
teamster, in consequence, became a factor in the indus- 
trial life of the community. 

With the dawn of the nineteenth century, the indus- 
trial destiny of Newark and vicinity gave manifest evi- 
dence; and, with the developing of manufacturing, the 
commercial element in the transportation question be- 
came permanent. Among the first steps taken to meet 
the need was the planning and laying out of several 
important highways, and the year 1806 marks the first 
important move in this vicinity in the direction of a 
scientific development of the means of transportation ; 
and that was the laying out and opening to travel of 
the Newark and Pompton Turnpike, now Bloomfield 
Avenue. 

Bloomfield was represented in that enterprising move 
by two of its leading citizens, Israel Crane and John 
Dodd, who were active directors in the laying out and 
building of the road. From a commercial standpoint 
Bloomfield Turnpike was, at that time, as important as 
the opening of a new railroad would be to the present 
time. It proved a great accessory in the development 
of commerce. The freighter came on the scene, and 
great wagons laden with raw material from beyond the 
Delaware River, which was then the far West, traversed 
the avenue. It also increased facilities for getting farm 
products to market, and the wheel-wright and smithing 
industries flourished along the route. Wagon making. 



104 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

which was one of Bloomfield's early important industries, 
was stimulated by the opening of the turnpike. 

While the turnpike was essentially a freighters' high- 
way, it also introduced a new element into the trans- 
portation problem, in the line of passenger transporta- 
tion. The traveling public was beginning to be a 
factor worthy of the attention of the man with an eye 
to business. The acme of rapid transit in the year 1800 
was an eighteen-hour trip by stage from Jersey City 
to Philadelphia, with a ten dollar one-way rate of fair. 
Lines of stage conveyances were soon in active operation 
on all leading highways, and Bloomfield Center, now a 
trolley transfer point, was at one time an important 
stage post. 

The year 1824 marked another progressive step in 
enlarging of transportation facilities, when the State 
Legislature granted a charter to the Morris Canal and 
Banking Company, to build a canal across the State 
from a point opposite Easton, Pa., on the Delaware 
River, to Newark, on the Passaic River; and later, in 
1828, the charter was amended to enable the extension 
of the canal to Jersey City. Two distinctive features 
in the transportation business were embodied in the 
canal project: one was that it was purely an artificial 
artery of commerce, and the other that its construction 
was through the medium of aggregated capital. It 
marked a new and important era in transportation. 

Manufacturing of various kinds, stage and express 
business, and other lines of commerce, had reached a 
point when iron, coal, wood, hay, and other heavy and 
bulky commodities were needed in larger quantities and 
at lower prices than could be obtained through the 
medium of the old time freighter and his wagon ; but 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 105 

one of the prime factors that mterested the attention 
of capitalists and scientific men to artificial navigation 
was the bringing of the product of the Pennsylvania 
coal fields to a profitable market, and had much to do 
with the conception and the direction of the Morris 
Canal project. 

George McCullough, of Morristown, is credited with 
the origination of the then bold enterprise of construct- 
ing a canal from the Delaware to the Hudson River. 
The mountainous elevations between the two points were 
regarded as fatal obj ections to the proj ect, and to over- 
come these Mr. McCullough adopted the expedient of 
inclined planes. Such planes, according to a commen- 
tary of the times, had never before been appKed to boats 
of such magnitude, and to an operation so extensive. 

Prizes were offered for the best ideas as to the con- 
struction of the proposed planes, and the successful 
competitor was Ephraim Morris of Bloomfield. His 
planes were adopted, and he was made general manager 
of the canal, a position he held from 1832 to 1843. 
One of the great planes of the canal is located here in 
Bloomfield, and has a vertical height of fifty-seven feet. 
From its upper end extends the long "seventeen-mile 
level," and old canalers west bound with their boats on 
Saturday evenings used to urge their mules forward 
to get over the Bloomfield plane before midnight Satur- 
day night, in order to have the seventeen-mile level for 
a Sunday run, as the canal locks and planes were not 
operated in those days on Sunday, for the soul had not 
yet been squeezed out of corporations. 

One day in November, 1832, there was a commotion 
in Bloomfield, and numerous people hurried to the 
plane, for five boats loaded with pig iron had left 



106 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Dover, and were making a trial trip of the canal, and a 
test of the planes and locks. The ease and facility with 
which the boats were passed over the plane astonished 
the spectators, and the great achievement was the town 
topic for many days. 

Water was turned into the canal for the purpose of 
regular operations in April, 1832; but a break in a 
dyke near Easton delayed the beginning of traffic for 
another month. The first boat to reach Newark was the 
"Walk in the Water" with a consignment for the 
Stephens & Condit Transportation Company. 

Another red letter day in canal history was the ar- 
rival of two boats loaded with coal from Mauch 
Chunk, Pa. Enterprising coal dealers urged the people 
to lay in an early supply, as canal navigation would 
close in winter time. Canal boats rapidly increased in 
number, and the freight tonnage reached enormous 
totals for the times. 

The canal traversed Bloomfield through the longest 
direction, and the town was an important point on the 
canal, and the coal yards here supplied a very extensive 
territory, and in that section of the town known as the 
plane a business center of a considerable importance was 
built up. 

A well-known Bloomfielder, Jacob F. Randolph, was 
president of the Canal Company a numb.er of years. 

The canal was used in a limited way for passenger 
travel, and the packet boat "Marion Colden," drawn by 
three horses, was a "flyer" of the times. It made daily 
trips (Sundays excepted) between Newark and Passaic. 
The fare to Bloomfield was twenty-five cents, and to 
Passaic, fifty cents. It was a popular excursion boat. 
At Passaic, then called Acquackanonck, excursionists 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 107 

had an opportunity to ride on the new railroad, now the 
Erie Railroad, to Paterson. Ephraim Morris was the 
builder of the packet boat. 

In 1871 the Morris Canal was transferred under a 
perpetual lease to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and not 
many years after that it became defunct as an artery 
of transportation. For many years now it has been 
regarded as a detriment to the town, but there are indi- 
cations of a transformation in which the canal route 
will again become a useful and valuable factor as a 
transportation route of the most approved rapid tran- 
sit character. 

In noting the development of the process of trans- 
portation from the latter part of the seventeenth cen- 
tury to the first half of the nineteenth century, the first 
personages who appeared upon the scene were the pio- 
neer settlers, with whom the problem of transportation 
involved only their individual needs and convenience. 
The industrial element was introduced with the appear- 
ance of the teamster, whose livelihood was earned in the 
transporting of logs to saw mills. Next appeared a 
more dignified and romantic personage, in the freighter, 
whose business was the transportation of raw materials 
and merchandise between the manufacturer in the city 
and the country merchants in the remote district. Next 
followed the independent canal boat captain, and the 
application of science and art to transportation. 

Canals, however, were not long equal to the demands 
of commerce in the line of transportation. 

Science and art had applied their efforts to further 
improvement of means of travel and freight communi- 
cation, and capital was ready to back up and further 
any device that promised to meet the expanding needs. 



108 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Science and art brought forth the steam locomotive and 
the railroad, and capital busied itself in the exploita- 
tions of the new device ; and the present day and gene- 
ration is witness to the marvelous results since 1830, 
when the State Legislature chartered the first railroad 
enterprise in New Jersey, the Camden and Amboy Rail- 
road, which soon became a power both in the industrial 
and political interests of the State. 

The Morris and Essex Railroad, incorporated in 
1835, brought the railroad in close proximity to Bloom- 
field. The Morris and Essex, in the early years of its 
operation, did not stand as now in the front rank as a 
passenger line. Cars were diverted from the terminus 
of the main line at Newark, and drawn by horses down 
Broad and Center streets to the Center Street station 
of the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Com- 
pany, and were thence run over that company's tracks 
to Jersey city. 

In 1855 the road was extended to East Newark, and 
a more perfect junction made with the New Jersey 
Railroad. 

In 1860 the Hoboken Land and Improvement Com- 
pany obtained a charter for a railroad connecting 
Newark with Hoboken, and the Morris and Essex trains 
were then run direct to Hoboken through the Bergen 
tunnel of the New York and Erie Rajlroad. 

In 1868, the Morris and Essex and its branches were 
leased to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Rail- 
road and a new and independent tunnel was completed 
in 1877. 

Old Bloomfield has suffered the reproach of slowness, 
but history bears evidence that the appellation was a 
misnomer. In the adoption and application of improved 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 109 

processes of transportation Bloomfield enterprise has 
made a record to be proud of. It was Bloomfield brains 
and capital that were influential in the opening of the 
Newark and Pompton Turnpike, among the first com- 
mercial highways in Essex County. It was Bloomfield 
ingenuity that surmounted the engineering difficulties 
in the way of the construction of the Morris Canal, and 
that new and improved process of transportation, the 
railroad, had scarcely been demonstrated a success when 
Bloomfield enterprise and Bloomfield capital took up the 
idea and gave their town the benefit of their work in 
the consti-uction of the Newark and Bloomfield Rail- 
road, chartered on March 26, 1852, and completed to 
Bloomfield in December, 1855, and West Bloomfield, 
now Montclair, in 1856. 

The incorporators, when the charter was obtained, 
were Zenas S. Crane, Dr. Joseph A. Davis, Ira Dodd, 
Grant J. Wheeler, Robert L. Cook, David Oakes, David 
Conger, William S. Morris, and Warren S. Baldwin. 

Dr. Joseph A. Davis was the first president of the 
railroad, and an influential factor in furthering its con- 
struction. He took up the first spadeful of earth, when 
the construction work was started, at a point near 
Clark Street. The occasion was one of some note, and 
the Rev. Job Halsey of Montclair delivered an oration 
to the assembled people. When the road was first pro- 
jected the promoters opened negotiations with the New 
Jersey Railroad Company for a New York connection, 
but the negotiations did not prove satisfactory, and 
final arrangements were made with the Morris and 
Essex Railroad Company for building the road. The 
Morris and Essex Company furnished $55,000 of the 
capital stock, and $50,000 was subscribed, mostly in 



110 BLOO:\IFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Bloomfield. The road was subsequently leased to the 
Morris and Essex Company on a guarantee of 6 per 
cent, interest on its stock of $103,850, less than half 
the sum that the Lackawanna Company spent in im- 
provements at the Bloomfield and Watsessing station in 
1911. 

Ira Dodd, of Bloomfield, was the first superintendent 
of the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad. 

Three trains each way daily filled the requirements of 
the traveling public. When the road first opened New 
York passengers changed cars at Roseville. Some of 
the trains were mixed trains, made up of freight and 
passenger cars, and passengers waited patiently while 
the locomotive drilled freight cars on the siding. The 
Glenwood Avenue station, the first built along the line 
of the road, did duty until November, 1911. The first 
Watsessing station was called Doddtown, and was lo- 
cated at Willow Street. A bell on a tower at the 
Glenwood Avenue station warned the people of the ap- 
proach of a train. 

The first conductor on the road was Samuel Arbuth- 
not, afterward ticket agent at the Glenwood Avenue 
station. Charles Willetts was the first engineer. Charles 
Corby was promoted from baggage master to conductor,, 
and sers-ed the company many years. Peter Tronson 
was many years an engineer on the road, and James 
Patrick and Edward Cain of Montclair were among the- 
early brakemen. 

The important position of legal counsel for the com- 
pany was held by the Honorable Amzi Dodd, who con- 
ducted the negotiations with landowners for the right 
of way. With the advent of railroads the travelings 
public became an element in transportation matters, and 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 111 

the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad management has 
always had before it the constant problem of keeping 
pace with the demands upon it by its ever-increasing 
passenger travel, and the daily passenger traffic now 
exceeds that of a month in I860. 

The Glen Ridge station was opened in 1860, and 
through trains to New York were run in 1865. 

The marvelous growth of the patronage of the New- 
ark and Bloomfield Railroad gave rise in 1867 to an- 
other railroad enterprise, when a charter was granted 
to the New York, Montclair and Greenwood Lake Rail- 
road, and the building of the road was completed in 
1872. Robert M. Henning, Juhus H. Pratt, and Henry 
C. Spaulding were active promoters of the new railroad. 

This new road was one of the causes of the division 
between Bloomfield and Montclair. The promoters 
sought to have the township bonded to build the road. 
The proposition was stoutly resisted here, and the mat- 
ter was discussed at a stormy town meeting. A bond- 
ing act was passed by the Legislature, but Bloomfield 
was exempted from its provisions. Montclair was 
bonded for .$200,000. 

A notable day in Bloomfield was an incident in con- 
nection with the construction of the New York and 
Greenwood Lake Railroad. A dispute arose over the 
construction of the Broad Street bridge, and the ring- 
ing of the old First Church bell was the signal for the 
citizens to rush to the scene of trouble and resist an 
invasion of the public rights. The sheriff of the county 
appeared on the scene and dispersed the assemblage. 

The New York and Greenwood Lake Railroad and its 
Orange Branch, which traverses the southern portion of 
the town, is now operated by the Erie Railroad Com- 



112 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

pany, and under that company's mangement is giving 
the town a good passenger service between here and 
New York, and has biiilt up a large commuting 
patronage. 

The Orange branch, as yet, is chiefly a freight road, 
and carries an immense tonnage annually. 

Following the steam railroads, the next innovation in 
transportation here was the introduction of the street 
railway, designed for passenger service solely. The 
increase in population and the need of more direct and 
frequent communication with Newark was the stimulus 
for an embarkation in the street railway business by a 
number of local capitalists ; and the Newark, Bloom- 
field and Montclair Horse Car Railroad Company was 
chartered in 1867. 

The road was originally built from near the cemetery 
gate on Belleville Avenue, where the car bam was lo- 
cated, and along Belleville Avenue to Broad Street, 
along the west side of the park to Franklin Street to 
Newark Avenue, then a new street just opened as a 
part of the railway scheme, and along Newark Avenue 
to the north end of Mt. Prospect Avenue, thence to 
Bloomfield Avenue, to Belleville Avenue to Broad Street, 
Newark. 

The route proved too roundabout, and too much time 
was consumed in the trip, and the new enterprise was not 
a success. If the present electrical equipment of street 
railroads had been in vogue then, the result would have 
been different, and Newark Avenue may yet fulfill its 
original design as a street railway route. In 1876 the 
street railway passed into the hands of the Newark and 
Bloomfield Street Railway Company, and tlie tracks 
were laid on Bloomfield Avenue, a more direct route. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 113 

The Bloomfield line figured in the various corporate 
changes that have marked the history of street railway 
transportation, and out of which the Public Service 
railway eventually evolved, and which is now one of the 
leading street car railway companies of the country. 

In 1890 or thereabouts there was made an addition 
in the street railway service of the town by the building 
of the Orange and Bloomfield Railroad, now known as 
the cross-town branch of the Public Service Company. 
It was promoted and built by Francis M. Eppley of 
Orange, and was considered at the time a risky venture, 
but subsequent developments have demonstrated that 
Mr. Eppley correctly diagnosed the future prospects 
of the line. 

Automobile transportation in Bloomfield, in so far as 
passengers are concerned, has been confined to the trans- 
portation of the individual and members of his family 
and guests. There is a possibility, however, that pas- 
senger service by automobile service may yet be added 
to the transportation facilities of the town. 

Unless the street railways monopolize such important 
thoroughfares as Washington Street and Montgomery 
Street, public auto service may yet traverse those streets. 
The commercial auto, for express and delivery service, 
is now a familiar sight in the streets. 

Bloomfield railroad train service in 1856 consisted of 
about three trains each way between here and Newark 
by way of the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad. 

In this year of 1912 the train service consists of 
thirty-two trains each way between here and New York 
on the Lackawanna Railroad, nineteen each way on the 
New York and Greenwood Lake Railroad, and eight each 
way on the Watchung Railroad, a total of one hundred 



114 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

and eighteen passenger trains on week days, and a large 
number of Sunday trains. Freight transportation is 
independent of passenger service, and about eighteen 
long trains of freight pass daily over the railroad lines 
here, and a large part of the cargo of those trains is 
either delivered or collected in Bloomfield. The num- 
ber of trolley cars that traverse the town runs into the 
hundreds daily. 

Bloomfield's present position in the matter of trans- 
portation facilities, both as to passenger travel and ex- 
press and freight delivery, is a good one. The steam 
railroads that traverse the town are branches of two of 
the country's great trunk lines, the Lackawanna and the 
Erie. 

At Newark, only four miles away, the Bloomfielder 
can get aboard the Lackawanna main line trains for all 
points west, and at Jersey City the New York and 
Greenwood Lake makes a similar connection with the 
Erie main line. Tickets to almost any point in the 
country are on sale at the local ticket offices, and two 
of the leading express companies, the United States and 
the Wells Fargo, afford all the express services relative 
to travel. It is only a short ride by trolley to the 
Pennsylvania Railroad station in Newark, where trains 
can be boarded for all southern and southwestern 
points. 

For short trips, the Public Service Corporation's 
trolley lines have the town well connected up with all 
the principal towns within a radius of twenty miles. 
The Bloomfielder who, in 1850, got into a stage at the 
center and rode to the Center Street station of the New 
Jersey Railroad in Newark, and from thence went by 
train to New York, would be amazed at the transporta- 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 115 

tion improvements of the past fifty years could he re- 
visit his former terrestrial abode. The patron of the 
old Newark and Bloomfield Horse Car Line, whose 
heart ached with sympathy for the poor horses that 
tugged the loaded cars, would be astonished and de- 
lighted with present-day trolley cars. The ancient 
mariner whose craft plied the Morris Canal and whose 
bugle signal to get the lock ready was once a familiar 
sound, would be the only one likely to mourn over a 
decadence in commercial activity as he contemplated 
upon the present deserted and neglected conditions of 
that once famous and active commercial highway. 

Progressiveness in transportation facilities has been 
one of the foundation stones of Bloomfield's prosperity, 
and a retrospective glance at the successive steps in the 
progression reveals the elements of a self-made town. 
Let those of the present generation, who thoughtlessly 
hurl reproaches of slowness and old fogyism at the old- 
time Bloomfielders, stop and compare records. Let them 
point out where within the past forty years they them- 
selves have taken one initiative step toward effecting 
any improvements in transportation facilities. Let them 
pause and reflect upon it, that the Cranes and the Dodds 
of Bloomfield were leading factors in the promotion of 
the first commercial highway that traversed this section, 
namely the Newark and Pompton Turnpike. Let it 
not be overlooked that nearly one hundred years ago 
it was the ingenuity of Ephraim Morris, an honored 
Bloomfielder, that contributed to the successful opera- 
tion of the Morris Canal. 

A little over half a century ago the energy, the enter- 
prise and the capital of the Davis's, the Dodd's, the 
Baldwin's, and the Oakes's, all old-time honored Bloom- 



116 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

field names, gave the town its first railroad. The same 
names appear also in the first efforts to give the town 
a street railway system. 

Citizens who take the initiative in securing improve- 
ments for their town cannot truthfully be dubbed slow 
and unprogressive, and it is but fitting in this Centen- 
nial 3^ear that the services Bloomfield's former leading 
citizens rendered for their own town be held up to the 
light of the present day, and that a fitting respect be 
paid to the memory of the self-made men, who by their 
personal enterprise and energy gave the town a history 
to be proud of. 

Transportation facilities, marvelous as they are now 
as compared with a half century ago, are yet in a 
transitory stage, and the future has wonders in store 
for the generations to come. 

Art and science, stimulants of genius, are as busy to- 
day as of yore, when they brought forth the canal as 
a morsel of their handiwork, and followed it with a 
greater wonder, the steam locomotive. Steam displaced 
water power as a motor force, and is in turn being dis- 
placed by a more subtle and powerful force, electricity. 
It was a mental possibility to calculate the dynamics of 
steam power, but the possibilities of electric energy are 
incalculable, and it may be said inconceivable. 

It is possible that the next generation of Bloom- 
fielders may see steam power supplanted by electric 
energy in all the railroads that traverse the town. There 
is no question but that transportation facilities will be 
increased and improved. The Lackawanna Railroad 
Company, by its expenditure of hundreds of thousands 
of dollars here on the improvements in its line, has 
given unmistakable evidence of its faith in the future. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 117 

There is a demand for extensions of the trolley hncs, 
and the demand must and will be met. 

The historians of the first century of the life of the 
municipality of Bloomfield have had a marvelous story 
to tell of development and progress, and those whose lot 
it may be to record the annals of the second centennial 
may have a still more wonderful tale to relate. We of 
the present day are inclined to self -congratulation and 
comphment that we have lived in and contributed to an 
age of progress. We can complacently smile upon the 
enthusiasm of those who thought the acme of progress 
had been reached when the Morris Canal was opened for 
traffic. Will the historians of the second centennial 
smile upon our egotism and compare their transporta- 
tion facilities with ours, in the sense and to the degree 
that we compare ours with the ox team and bolster 
wagon of the pioneer Bloomfielder.'' 



THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES 

By George Louis Curtis 

The section of New Jersey of which Bloomfield is a 
part was settled over two centuries ago by men of deeply 
religious convictions, and the community has retained to 
the present day the impress made by those early colonists. 
The town is well provided with churches, attendance 
upon their services is general, and their influence is felt 
in a marked degree. The church life is remarkably 
harmonious, and marked by a spirit of cordial co- 
operation rather than competition. Six of the leading 
churches, of the Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and 
Congregational denominations, are united in what is 
known as the Bloomfield Evangelical Union, holding 
quarterly union services and working together for the 
public welfare. The churches are mentioned here in the 
order of their organization. 

The first church to be organized was Presbyterian. 
For many years the early settlers of this locality were 
obliged to go several miles for worship, attending either 
the Newark Church or the Second Presbyterian Church 
of the Township, now known as the First Presbyterian 
Church of Orange. In 1794 members of a society that 
had been meeting in school or private liouses, in what 
was then called Wardsesson, petitioned the Presbytery 
of New York for organization as the Third Presbyterian 
Congregation in the Township of Newark. This re- 
quest was granted on July 23, ITO-i. On October 2-i, 
1796, trustees who had been elected at a public meeting 
held on August 9th, in the house of Joseph Davis on 
Franklin Street, met in the same place and assumed the 

118 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 119 

name of "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Society of 
Bloomfield." Three days later a subscription was be- 
gun for the erection of a church edifice which was placed 
on a knoll facing the field that soon became the "Com- 
mon" or "Green." For many years this was the only 
place of worship in the community, and the center of 
its religious life. The building was constructed of 
brown free-stone, and the mortar which cemented it was 
purchased with the gift of $140 made by General, 
afterward Governor, Joseph Bloomfield, in whose honor 
the new name for church and town had been chosen. 
Isaac Dodd, Ephraim Morris, Joseph Crane and Simeon 
Baldwin were elected deacons in 1798, and served as the 
first church officers. "The Church on the Green," now 
known as the First Presbyterian Church, after more 
than a century of service, still fulfills its original pur- 
pose, as it bids fair to do for many years to come. 

So much of the early history of the town is con- 
nected with that of this church that the reader is re- 
ferred to Chapter First of this volume for details down 
to the year 1810, when the pastorate of Rev. Abel Jack- 
son, its first minister, terminated. The ministerial suc- 
cession has been as follows: 

Rev. Abel Jackson 1800-1810 

Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve 1812-1818 

Rev. Gideon N. Judd, D.D 1820-1834. 

Rev. Ebenezer Seymour 1834-1847 

Rev. George Duffield, D.D 1847-1851 

Rev. James M. Sherwood, D.D 1852-1858 

Rev. Ellis J. Newlin, D.D 1859-1863 

Rev. Charles E. Knox, D.D 1864-1873 

Rev. Henry W. Ballantine, D.D 1874-1894 

Rev. James Beveridge Lee, D.D 1894-1899 

Rev. George Louis Curtis, D.D., installed in April, 1900 



120 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Great changes have occurred during these hundred 
years. Candles have given way to electricity. The 
posts and chain around the "Common" have disappeared 
since the "Park" was graded under the engineering eye 
of Dr. Ballantine. The original structure has been 
lengthened, and the Sunday-school room has been added. 
A new tower was built, and a clock with a Westminster 
chime of bells, the gift of members of the Davis family, 
was added in 1896, at the time of the centennial celebra- 
tion. A fine new organ with chimes was installed in 
October, 1911. The Parish House was erected in 184!0. 
This was designed not only for devotional meetings, but 
also for those of the "Young Men's Lyceum," whose 
literary exercises and debates were held there, and for 
town meetings and elections as well, and for many years 
it was so used. 

The change from an "Associate" or independent 
Presbyterian Church following the Congregational 
usage, under Rev. Abel Jackson, to its perfected or- 
ganization as a Presbyterian Church was made in 1812, 
soon after the installation of Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve. 
It is interesting to note that this second pastor, on 
removing from the South, brought his slaves with him ; 
but slaves were held by other Bloomfielders also at that 
time. Dr. Judd's pastorate was marked by several great 
revivals of religion. Dr. George Duffield is widely 
known as the author of "Stand up, stand up for Jesus." 
Dr. Charles E. Knox, during whose pastorate the colony 
left to form the Westminster Presbyterian Churcli, re- 
signed to become the first president of the German Theo- 
logical School of Newark, located in this town. The 
membership of the church is now 778, and of the Sun- 
day-school, 282. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 121 

The Broughton Memorial Chapel is an outlying sta- 
tion of "The Old First Church," doing the same work, 
and open to all, regardless of denomination. In 1870 
an organization was formed by young men of the First 
and Westminster churches for Christian work among 
the boatmen on the Morris Canal. A building known 
as "Hope Chapel" was completed in February, 1871, 
in which a Sunday-school was started. Preaching was 
soon suspended, owing to decreasing business on the 
canal; but the Sunday-school flourished. The present 
building on Bay Avenue was dedicated in November, 
1899. In 1907 an addition was built, more land was 
purchased, a pool-table and bowling alleys were installed 
in the basement, making the total outlay about $10,000. 

The first superintendent was N. B. Collins, who had 
been active in procuring the land and securing subscrip- 
tions for the erection of the first building. His term 
of service lasted about six months. His successors have 
been the following: John F. Seymour, 1871 to 1876; 
William A. Baldwin, 1876 to 1881; John F. Wood- 
hull, 1881 to 1882; John G. Broughton, 1882 to 1894; 
William A. Baldwin, 1894 to the present time. 

The present name was given in honor of John G. 
Broughton, whose faithful service as superintendent for 
twelve years, supplemented by his genial manner, drew 
hosts of friends about him, and endeared him to the 
whole community. The present number of officers, 
teachers and pupils is 203. 

Sunday evening services were begun in February, 
1908. Walter S. Hertzog, of Union Theological Semi- 
nary, New York City, was the preacher for the first 
winter. C. Henry Holbrook, now a missionary in 
Turkey, succeeded him for two years. The services are 



122 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

now in charge of Laurence Fenninger, who began his 
work in October, 1910. 

The Brookdale Reformed (Dutch) Church is 
one of the oldest churches of a wide region. The meet- 
ings from which it grew began in 1795, when this sec- 
tion was known as Stone House Plains. The Reformed 
Church at Acquackanonck (Passaic), organized in 
1691, the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield, or- 
ganized in 1696, and the Reformed Church at Second 
River (Belleville), organized in 1700, were then the 
only churcjies within a radius of over six miles. The 
Rev. Peter Stryker, pastor of the church at Second 
River, began the preaching services, the meeting-house, 
it is said, being improvised out of a barn. By direction 
of the Classis of Bergen he organized the church in 
October, 1801, becoming its founder and first pastor 
while continuing to serve the church at Second River. 
For half a century the outskirts of the parish extended 
to Franklin, Athenia, beyond the Great Notch, and 
"over the mountain," that is, to Cedar Grove. 

The first consistory was composed of Yellis Mande- 
ville and Walling Egberts, elders, and Francis Speer, 
deacon. The church edifice, a stone structure, was built 
and used as a place of worship in 1802, but was not 
finished until later. It was only forty by fifty feet, and 
was without tower or bell. The land .was the gift of 
Abram Garrabrant. The building was rebuilt in 1857. 
The steeple and bell were added through the generosity 
of James G. Speer, of Cincinnati, a former member, in 
I860. After having been burned, the building was again 
rebuilt and enlarged in 1910. The Rev. Peter Stryker 
served as stated supply and pastor from 1801 to 1826. 
He has been succeeded by the following ministers of the 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 123 

Reformed (Dutch) Church: The Rev. Messrs. John G. 
Tarbell, Alexander C. Hillman, Eben S. Hammond, 
William Thompson, Robert A. Quinn, John A. Liddell, 
John Wiseman, Peter Stryker Talmage, Benjamin T. 
Statesir, John Kershaw, Jacob O. Van Fleet, William 
G. E. See, William E. Bogardus and Charles E. Wal- 
dron. The present pastor, the Rev. Charles E. Waldron, 
was installed in 1909. The present membership of the 
church is 85, and of the Sunday-school, 105. 

The Park Methodist Episcopal Church was the 
third church to be organized in Bloomfield, having been 
started in 1832. The Rev. Benjamin Day was its first 
pastor. In the list of his successors are several names 
of unusual distinction, including those of Bishop Henry 
Spellmeyer and Rev. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, D.D., the 
present District Superintendent of Newark Conference. 
The church building, of stuccoed brick, erected on the 
west side of the "Green" in 1853, was enlarged in 1881, 
during the pastorate of Rev. Richard Harcourt. 

The Watsessing Methodist Episcopal Church was 
started by this church in 1871, Dr. Stephen L. Bald- 
win being the pastor of the Park Church at that time. 

The chapel was built during the pastorate of Rev. 
D. R. Lowry, 1882-5. Rev. John Ogden Winner, the 
present pastor, was installed in April, 1910. A beauti- 
ful and commodious parish house has lately been added, 
and was dedicated December 10, 1911. The material 
is light-colored brick, with stone columns and trim- 
mings. The interior is attractively arranged and fur- 
nished, and it is fully equipped for social and Sabbath- 
school purposes, and for all forms of present-day 
sei"vice. 

The following is a list of the pastors from 1832 to 



124 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

1912: The Rev. Messrs. Benjamin Day, Walter Bur- 
rows, Isaac N. Felch, J. I. Morrow, G. K. Snyder, 
D. F. Reed, John Scarlett, W. W. Voorhees, S. H. 
Opdyke, George Winson, John S. Swain, A. S. Comp- 
ton, J. R. Adams, Stacy W. Hilliard, Stephen L. Bald- 
win, Henry Spellmeyer, E. W. Burr, W. L. Hoagland, 
Richard Harcourt, Daniel R. Lowrie, Albert Mann, Jr., 
J. A. Monroe, R. B. Collins, R. M. Aylsworth, J. G. 
Johnston, C. S. Woodruff, Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, Na- 
thaniel Brooks, and John Ogden Winner. 

The First Baptist Church occupies the corner of 
Franklin and Washington streets, and the organization 
dates from November 25, 1851. The present building 
was erected in 1911, and its Sabbath-school building in 
1891. Rev. John D. Meeson was the first pastor. He 
has been succeeded by Rev. James H. Pratt, Rev. Henry 
F. Smith, Rev. W. F. Stubbert, D.D., Rev. Ezra D. 
Simons, Rev. Charles A. Cook, Rev. Fred W. Buis, and 
Rev. Henry S. Potter, S.T.D. The present pastor. 
Dr. Potter, was installed June 1, 1907. The present 
membership of the church is 565, while the Sunday- 
school, the largest in town, has an enrollment, including 
the Home Department and Cradle Roll, of 865. 

The Silver Lake Chapel, in which services had been 
conducted by the First Baptist Church for several 
years, was recently burned, but will soon be rebuilt in 
another location. It is worthy of note that the church 
was organized with a constituent membership of thir- 
teen, and none of them wealthy ; yet they immediately 
purchased the large corner lot and built what was then 
a fine brick structure, and dedicated it free of debt 
within nineteen months. The present parsonage was 
purchased in 1907. In 1903 the W. C. T. U. Hall 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 125 

adjoining the church property was purchased and at 
a considerable expense fitted up for use as a hall for 
the Primary Department of the Bible School. 

In 1910 the stately old brick building that had stood 
on that prominent site for nearly sixty years was 
razed, and in its place a larger modem building was 
erected, constructed of West Townsend (Mass.) granite, 
at an outlay, including furnishings, of over seventy 
thousand dollars. Worthy of special note is the large 
modem "Memorial" organ with twenty-six speaking 
registers. The property of the church is valued at 
$125,000. 

In 1901 the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary 
with elaborate festivities, and issued a beautiful volume 
illustrating the progress of a half century. 

Mr. Frank B. Stone, superintendent of the Bible 
School, has filled that office for thirty years. 

The spirit of this church in relation to country and 
community is shown by the fact that out of sixty male 
members at the outbreak of the Civil War, twenty en- 
tered the United States Army. 

The German Presbyterian Church, situated on 
Park Avenue, and of which the Rev. Remi J. Butting- 
hausen is pastor, was organized January 1, 1855. The 
present building was erected in 1895. The church's 
half-century and more of history may be summarized 
as follows : 

On the first day of January, 1857, a group of thirty- 
seven Christian men and women of German birth gath- 
ered at the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Bloomfield to be organized into a church in accordance 
with the principles and doctrines of the Presbyterian 
Church, and to be known as the German Presbyterian 



126 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Church of Bloomfield, N. J. Of the thirty-seven origi- 
nal members, all but three have departed this life. Those 
still living and connected with the church are Jacob 
Fornoff, Henry Bickler and Elizabeth Metz. 

For a number of years the little flock met at the 
chapel of the First Presbyterian Church, whose pastor, 
the Rev. Dr. Sherwood, took a very warm interest in the 
new movement. 

During this time the church had no regular pastor, 
the pulpit being supplied by the Rev. Mr. Thebrath of 
Newark, N. J., and Christian Wisner, a student at the 
Union Theological Seminary of New York. On the 
29th day of April, 1864?, Mr. Wisner was ordained to 
the Christian ministry and installed as the first regular 
pastor of the church. In the following year the first 
church building was erected at a cost of $4,600, 

The Rev. Mr. Wisner remained but a few years as 
pastor of the church, and his work was continued by the 
Rev. John Enslin, who, after serving the church faith- 
fully for twenty-two years, departed this life on the 
12th day of April, 1890. During his ministry the par- 
sonage was erected. 

In the fall of the year 1890, the Rev. Heni*y Seibert, 
D.D., was installed as pastor of the church. In 1895 
the present house of worship was built. 

In 1899 Dr. Seibert accepted the f^all extended to 
him by the First German Presbyterian Church of New- 
ark, N. J. The pastoral work of the Bloomfield church 
was then entrusted to the late Rev. Otto Zesch, D.D., 
who served it from 1899 to 1902. Since the spring of 
1903 the Rev. R, J. Buttinghauscn has been the pastor. 

The church has a membership of 210. There are 
250 scholars and teachers connected with the Sunday- 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 127 

school, of which Mr. Carl Seibert is the superin- 
tendent. 

Christ (Episcopal,) Church in Bloomfield and Glen 
Ridge stands on the dividing line between those two 
municipalities, on the corner of Bloomfield and Park 
avenues. The organization dates from 1858, when a 
number of English families living in the town of Bloom- 
field, which at that time included Glen Ridge and Mont- 
clair (known as West Bloomfield), requested Rev. Henry 
Beers Sherman, then rector of Christ Church, Belle- 
ville, to conduct services for them after the order of the 
Church of England. The services were at first held in 
a private house on Franklin Street, then in a public 
house known as Archdeacon's Hotel, and later in an 
upper room known as Union Hall on the northwest cor- 
ner of Washington and Glenwood avenues. 

The parish organization was formed October 4, 1858, 
and Rev. Henry Marsh was chosen the first rector. 

The first church edifice was erected on Liberty Street, 
and consecrated June 23, 1861. This, together with the 
adjoining parish house, was destroyed by fire on the 
night of January 11, 1893. Meantime a movement 
looking toward the establishment of a new parish in 
Glen Ridge had resulted in the formation of a society 
called the St. Mark's Society. This Society united with 
Christ Church after the fire, and the present site was 
chosen for the new church as more convenient for min- 
istering to the needs of the greatly enlarged parish 
overlapping both towns. 

The cost of the new church and parish house, includ- 
ing organ, furniture, etc., was approximately $40,000, 
which, however, does not represent the actual value of 
the buildings, even at the time of erection. The interior 



128 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

stone was the last stone quarried from the Glen Ridge 
quarry on Bloomfield Avenue, on the spot since filled in 
and now used as the playground of the Glen Ridge 
Public School. The exterior stone was the first taken 
from a quarry at Pompton. The rectory adjoining the 
church was completed in October, 1905. 

St. Luke's Church, Montclair, is the outgrowth of a 
Mission started during the rectorship of Rev. Mr. 
Marsh in Bloomfield, and is the eldest of four daughters 
of Christ Church. A Sunday-school started in Frank- 
lin, while Dr. Carter was rector here, has since developed 
into the parish of Grace Church, Nutley. The Chapel 
erected in Watsessing during the same period was the 
beginning of the new parish of St. Paul's Church, East 
Orange. A Mission on Montgomery Avenue, started by 
Christ Church in 1901, has since become the Church of 
the Ascension. 

The list of rectors of Christ Church is as follows : 

Rev. Henry Marsh 1860-1863 

Rev. Charles Ritter 1863-1864 

Rev. William A. W. Maybin 1864-1865 

Rev. Albert Zabriskie Gray 1865-1868 

Rev. William H. Carter, D.D 1869-1872 

Rev. T. Jefferson Danner 1872-1877 

Rev. William G. Farrington, D.D 1877-1889 

Rev. Robert S. Carlin 1889-1891 

Rev. Edward Augustine White, D.C.L., 

Elected January 11, 1892 

The main growth of Christ Church thus far has taken 
place during the rectorship of Dr. White, the twentieth 
anniversary of whose installation was celebrated in Jan- 
uary, 1912. Dr. White is also a recognized authority 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 129 

on canon law in the Protestant Episcopal Church. The 
present communicant membership of the church is about 
700, and that of the Sunday-school, 250. Rev. George 
G. Daland is Curate and Choirmaster-organist. The 
wardens are Messrs. Thaddeus S. Genin and William H. 
Sayre. The Reception Committee, of which Mr. Talbot 
Root is president, is one of the strongest and most effec- 
tive organizations of men in the Diocese of Newark. 

The Westminster Presbyterian Church, which 
occupies a group of handsome buildings on Franklin 
and Fremont streets, was originally made up of a colony 
from "the Old First Church." Increased membership 
and lack of adequate accommodation were the reasons 
leading to the establishment of the new organization, 
and Rev. Charles E. Knox, D.D., then pastor of the old 
church, earnestly used his influence in its favor. 

The movement was initiated at a meeting held on 
June 25, 1869, when fifty-one persons signified their 
intention of becoming identified with the new enter- 
prise. The first service was held on July 11, 1869, in 
the Academy (now the German Theological School), 
with eighty-two persons present, and Dr. Knox preach- 
ing the sermon. Eucleian Hall, at the comer of Wash- 
ington and Glenwood avenues, was afterward secured 
as a meeting-place, and Rev. Duncan Kennedy, D.D., 
of Troy, N. Y., was engaged as stated supply. The 
new organization was formally constituted by Presby- 
tery into a church on January 7, 1870, with sixty-seven 
charter members. 

The first officers of the church elected were Moses 
M. Bradley and Coll J. Turner, elders ; Robert J. 
Beach and Frederick Crane, deacons. The first board 
of trustees, chosen at a meeting of the parish January 



130 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

21st, was composed of Rev. J. D. Gallagher, Daniel 
H. Temple, Harry E. Richards, Jason Crane, Phineas 
J. Ward and Edward A. Bliss. 

On May 27, 1870, Rev. Duncan Kennedy, D.D., was 
called to become the first pastor of the church. A 
chapel was erected on Fremont Street, and the installa- 
tion and dedicatory services were both held on Septem- 
ber 30, 1870. Dr. Kennedy resigned in 1881 owing 
to the infirmities of age, and was succeeded in 1882 by 
Rev. Samuel W. Duffield, who died in the harness on 
May 12, 1887. Mr. Duffield was a man of literary 
ability, an authority on hymnology, and the author of 
two volumes on English Hymns and Latin Hymns. 
Rev. George A. Paull, D.D., followed in a pastorate 
extending over eighteen years, a period of steady growth 
and large expansion for the church. Rev. William T. 
Wilcox, D.D., the present pastor, was installed on May 
27, 1907. 

The new church building was dedicated April 12, 
1892, The chapel, after having been partially de- 
stroyed by fire and rebuilt, was removed in 1901 to the 
corner of Liberty Street and Austin Place, and is now 
used for worship by St. John's German Lutheran 
Church. The beautiful Jarvie Memorial, of brown 
stone, with its spacious hall, parlors, gymnasium, etc., 
was erected in 1902 by James N. Jarvie in memory of 
his parents, and presented to the church of which they 
had been among the original members. This building 
also houses the Jarvie Memorial Public Library, con- 
taining some 14,000 well-selected volumes on all sub- 
jects, and with commodious reading-rooms and all the 
appliances of a thoroughly modern reference and cir- 
culating library. In completeness and elegance of 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 131 

equipment this church is now probably without a su- 
perior in the State. 

Twenty-one famihes withdrew in 1888-9 to form the 
Glen Ridge Congregational Church ; but the migration 
reduced the membership only temporarily. The present 
membership of the church is about 605, and of the 
Sunday-school, 425. 

Montgomery Chapel, located just across the Belle- 
ville line, is maintained by Westminster Church. It is 
the result of Sunday-school work that began with a 
school under the care of Erasmus D. Willes, April 23, 
1826. The sessions of the school were held at the 
Quarries, and only during the summer months. 

The superintendents since that time have been 
J. Vants, Gilbert Combs, Isaac N. Dodd, Elias Osborne, 
L. W. Hones, Miss Jennie A. Osborne, Richard Handy, 
and W. S. Phraner. Mr. Phraner took charge of the 
school September 15, 1891. At that time the place of 
meeting was the old school-house situated on Mont- 
gomery Street, in the Soho section of Belleville. In 
October, 1895, the present chapel was started, and was 
completed and dedicated March 15, 1896. Since that 
time a primary-room, library, gymnasium, bowling 
alleys, pipe-organ and other conveniences have been 
gradually added. The present enrollment of the school 
is 205. The Sabbath-school meets on Sunday after- 
noons at 3.15. A preaching service is also held every 
Sabbath evening at 8 o'clock. The building is open 
through the week, and is used and appreciated by those 
who live in that neighborhood. 

Although non-sectarian,, the school depends almost 
entirely for its support on Westminster Church. The 
property, estimated at $14,000, is held under a deed of 



132 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

trust hy three trustees, Frederick Crane, Joseph M. 
Williams, and W. S. Phraner. 

The Watsessing Methodist Episcopal Church is 
situated on Lawrence Street, corner of Dodd Street, 
East Orange, in the heart of the section originally 
known as Wardsesson. It was organized in 1871, and 
Rev. W. B. Rulison was the first pastor. Andrew Ellor 
and his wife, Ann Ellor, were the prime movers in the 
organization of the church, under the supervision of 
Rev. Stephen L. Baldwin, then pastor of the Park 
Methodist Episcopal Church of Bloomfield. A Sunday- 
school was organized in Butterworth's Hall about 1871. 
Ebenezer E. Francis was its first superintendent, and 
was succeeded by Andrew Ellor. 

The first building, now known as the chapel, was 
erected in the winter of 1871-2, and was opened in 
February, 1872. During the pastorate of Rev. C. C. 
Winans the present church edifice was built in the winter 
of 1894-5, and was opened in May, 1895. 

The list of pastors in the history of the church thus 
far is as follows: Rev. Messrs. W. B. Rulison, H. W. 
Byrnes, A. H. Brown, E. N. Crasto, L. F. Burgess, 
H. J. Hayter, J. Cowins, J. H. Egbert, E. H. Clement, 
C. C. Winans, W. J. Keatley, J. O. Foster (supply), 
F. H. Knight, P. S. Blight, S. T. Jackson, J. William 
Ryder, and Bcrryman H. McCoy. 

The Rev. Berryman H. McCoy, the present pastor, 
was installed in April, 1912. The chapel was remodelled 
in the winter of 1909-10. The present member- 
ship of the church is 300, and of the Sunday-school, 
450. 

The Church of the Sacred Heart stands on the 
corner of Broad and Liberty streets, near the south- 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 133 

west comer of the Green, and its stately tower, 160 feet 
in height, is a conspicuous feature of the town. It is 
the loftiest landmark of this vicinity. 

The Roman Catholics of Bloomfield originally formed 
part of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Mont- 
clair. In response to many petitions Bishop Corrigan, 
the late Archbishop of New York, at length ordered the 
formation of a new parish, and the Rev. Joseph M. 
Nardiello of Newark was appointed to take charge June 
21, 1878. The Parish of the Sacred Heart was in- 
corporated July 1, 1878, the lay trustees being Francis 
O'Brien and Edward Quinn. The latter dying seven 
months later, John McGrath was appointed in his place 
and served with Mr. O'Brien for many years. 

Mass was at first celebrated in a hall in the Bloom- 
field Hotel: but the basement of a frame church on 
Bloomfield Avenue was completed and ready for occu- 
pancy by September 21st of the same year. 

The first parochial school was erected June 4, 1882: 
the large primary school in July, 1902. 

The corner-stone of the present church edifice facing 
the Park was laid on October 19, 1890, and it was com- 
pleted just two years later, October 18, 1892. It is of 
mottled brick with terra-cotta and stone trimmings. 
The seating capacity is 800. The main altar, of Car- 
rara marble, was the gift of the rector, and the me- 
morial windows were presented by parishioners and 
friends. The consecration of the church by Archbishop, 
now Cardinal SatolH, took place with great ceremony 
on October 21, 1894. 

The cemetery of Mt. Olivet was laid out in 1883, 
and its chapel erected in 1901. There is a Convent of 
Sisters and a Club-house for the use of the Young Men's 



134 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Catholic Lyceum connected with the church, besides the 
large parochial schools. 

The Rev. Joseph M. Nardiello, the first rector of the 
new parish of Bloomfield, has continued in office ever 
since its organization, and to his energy its growth and 
prosperity are largely due. In 1902 he was made an 
Irremovable Rector. The silver jubilee of the organiza- 
tion of the church of the Sacred Heart, and of the pas- 
torate of Rev. J. M. Nardiello, was celebrated in 1903. 
John J. Murray and Michael N. Higgins are the pres- 
ent lay trustees. 

The present communicant membership of the church 
is about 2,000, and there are 586 in the Sunday-school. 

The Glen Ridge Congregational Church, located 
on Ridgewood Avenue, corner of Clark Street, Glen 
Ridge, rightly has a place in this record, inasmuch as 
its organization antedates the separation of the two 
towns. A majority of the families of its original mem- 
bers came from the Westminster Church of Bloomfield, 
and the church is still included in the Bloomfield Evan- 
gelical Union. 

Its origin was due to the need felt by some of the 
residents of Glen Ridge for church accommodations 
nearer than those of Bloomfield. Evening services were 
at first held in the Glen Ridge station of the Delaware, 
Lackawanna and Western Railroad by the courtesy of 
the company, beginning on January 22, 1888. Regu- 
lar morning and evening services were opened on Sun- 
day morning, March 11th, when the sermon was 
preached by Rev. Charles E. Knox, D.D., of Bloom- 
field. Its organization was effected on April 8, 1888, 
by a Congregational Council called for the purpose, 
forty-three persons uniting to form the Glen Ridge 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 135 

Congregational Church. Ira Campbell, Marius G. Bel- 
loni and Arthur J. Lockwood were elected the first dea- 
cons of the new church. Rev. Frank J. Goodwin was 
called later to the pastorate, in which he was installed 
October 10, 1888, at a service held in the First Presby- 
terian Church of Bloomfield, Rev. R. S. Storrs, D.D., 
of Brooklyn, preaching the sermon. Members of the 
family of the late Rev. Joseph S. Gallagher, desiring 
to further the cause of Christ in the community, and to 
erect a suitable memorial to Mr. Gallagher, soon pre- 
sented the beautifully situated piece of property upon 
which the grey stone church was erected. The donors 
were Mrs. Susan C. Gallagher, Miss Martha C. Galla- 
gher, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Gallagher. 

The first service was held in the new building on June 
29, 1 890 ; but the dedicatory service was not held until 
October 28, 1890. The edifice was re-built and greatly 
enlarged in 1902, and is now admirably adapted to serve 
the religious needs of the growing neighborhood to 
which it ministers. 

Rev. Frank J. Goodwin, the first pastor, was suc- 
ceeded after eleven years, in 1899, by Rev. Elliott Wil- 
bur Brown, D.D., whose pastorate lasted ten years. 
Rev. Clarence Hall Wilson, D.D., the third and present 
pastor, was installed December 10, 1909. 

The present membership of the church is 461, and of 
the Sunday-school, 296. 

The Brookdale Baptist Chuuch, situated in what 
was originally known as Stone House Plains, was first 
organized as a Methodist Church in 1873, and the pres- 
ent building was erected in 1874. For eighteen years 
the church was without a pastor. In 1893 Henry Hep- 
burn bouffht the church, and under Rev. Charles C. 



136 BLOOJVIFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Cook, at that time pastor of the First Baptist Church 
of Bloomfield, it was organized as a mission of that 
church. The list of pastors has been as follows: 

Rev. S. L. Harter 1894-1896 

Rev. W. N. Hubbel 1897-1898 

Rev. Henry Brittain 1899-1908 

The Rev. Norman P. Smith, the present pastor, was 
installed in August, 1908. The present member- 
ship of the church is 62, and of the Sunday-school, 
110. 

St. John's Evangelical, Lutheran Church, situ- 
ated on the comer of Liberty Street and Austin Place, 
was organized in 1896, and its present building was 
erected in 1901. The Rev. Mr. Ebendick, of Rich- 
field, N. J., started the Lutheran services in Bloom- 
field in a hall in the Centre in 1895, preaching every 
Sunday afternoon. After the installation of Pastor 
Heyd the congregation erected a chapel in 1896 on 
the present location of the church. In 1901 the present 
church building was purchased from the Westminster 
Presbyterian Church and moved to Liberty Street and 
Austin Place, and the chapel was moved to the rear of 
the lot and joined to it, and is now used as a Sunday- 
school room. The church is now in the transition 
period from German to English. Most of the work in 
the Sunday-school is done in English, and regular Eng- 
lish services are also held. The church and the Sunday- 
school are increasing steadily in membership through 
new families moving to Bloomfield from Greater New 
York and other nearby cities. A very active Ladies* 
Society, and a Young People's Society, are important 
factors in the growth of the church. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 137 

The following has been the ministerial succession: 

Rev. Albert Heyd 1896-1899 

Rev. J. George F. Blaesi 1899-1900 

Rev. J. Sehulz 1900-1902 

Rev. C. Ziegelbrier 1902-1903 

Rev. H. A. Steininger 1903-1906 

Rev. Fr. Noeldeke 1906-1908 

Rev. C. H. Franke, the present pastor, was installed 
October 4, 1908. The present membership of the 
church is 275, and of the Sunday-school, 86. A Ger- 
man school is held every Saturday morning from 10 to 
12 o'clock, in which German, Bible history and the 
catechism are taught. 

St. Valentine's Roman Catholic Church, situated 
at Frankhn Avenue, corner of Plane Street, ministers 
to the large Polish population at the north end of the 
town. The church was organized February 16, 1899, 
and the present building was erected in 1905. The cor- 
ner-stone was laid on August 20th of that year by 
Rt. Rev. John J. O'Connor, Bishop of Newark, and 
on May 30, 1906, the new church was dedicated by the 
same bishop. The Rev. Constantine Zalinski, the first 
rector, was succeeded by Rev. John Adamowski, and 
Rev. Thadaeus Stankiewicz. The present rector is Rev. 
John A. Ivanow. 

The present membership of the church is given as 
1,010, and of the Sunday-school as 80. There is also 
a parochial school in connection with the church. 

The Church or the Ascension, at the comer of 
Montgomery Street and Berkeley Avenue, of which the 
Rev. W. T. Lipton is rector, is the latest accession to 
the churches of Bloomfield. It was organized as a 



138 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

parochial mission of Christ Church, under the rector- 
ship of the Rev. E. A. White, in the spring of 1901, 
and placed in charge of Colonel Wilson Vance, a lay 
reader. Services were held for a year and a half in a 
vacant store on the corner of Montgomery and Orchard 
streets. 

In January, 1902, a lot on the corner of Montgomery 
and Berkeley avenues was purchased and paid for by the 
people associated with the chapel. The present church 
building was erected during that year, and the opening 
service was held on December 21st. In 1909 the status 
of the Church of the Ascension was changed from that 
of a parochial to that of an organized mission of the 
diocese. In January, 1910, the lot adjoining the 
church property was purchased and paid for. 

Colonel Vance resigned in the autumn of 1902. He 
was succeeded by the Rev. L. R. Levering, who had 
charge until April, 1905. He was followed by the Rev. 
R. W. E. Merington, who resigned in June, 1906. The 
Rev. H. P. Scratchley then took charge. He resigned 
in December, 1908, and was succeeded by the Rev. W. T. 
Lipton, who became the first rector when the mission 
was organized and incorporated as a parish in April, 
1911. 

There are 110 communicants and 375 members. There 
are 12 teachers and 80 children in the Sunday-school. 

The officers of the church are: Wardens, Arthur B. 
Albcrtis and J. R. Wilde; Vestrymen, S. A. Andrew, 
S. P. Blceckcr, Henry C. De Witt, A. W. Graham, 
L. A. Kimball, S. P. Morton, Calvin Peck, A. H. White- 
field and F. L. H. Wood. 

There is a Colored Baptist Church on Bloomfield 
Avenue, near the Centre. The members of the Hebrew 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 139 

Congregation meet in a building recently purchased on 
Bloomfield Avenue, Glen Ridge. No statistics of these 
are furnished. 

The German Theological School of Newark 
occupies the old academy building, which is situated in 
Bloomfield, on Franklin and Liberty streets, near the 
south end of the Green. The main recitation building 
was formerly the home of the Bloomfield Academy. 
This institution, now in its forty-third year, is under 
the care of the Presbyterian Church in the United States 
of America, and trains students for its ministry among 
our foreign-born population. Originally started for 
German students, its scope has been enlarged to include 
Italians, Hungarians, Ruthenians and a growing poly- 
glot work among all nationalities in our country. 
Sixty students were enrolled last year. Rev. Charles 
E. Knox, D.D., resigned the pastorate of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield in 1873, in order to 
accept the presidency of the institution, then in its in- 
fancy, and served it for twenty-seven years. It is in- 
tended to erect a fine new building, to be known as 
"Knox Hall," for recitation and chapel purposes in the 
near future. Rev. David R. Frazer, D.D., is president 
of the Board of Directors. 

The Faculty is composed of Rev. Henry J. Weber, 
Ph.D., D.D., Professor of Theology and Church His- 
tory; Rev. Carl T. Hock, Ph.D., D.D., Professor of 
Classics and Hebrew; Rev. Arnold W. Fismer, Ph.D., 
D.D., Professor of New Testament Exegesis and 
Ethics ; Rev. Frederick W. Jackson, Ph.B., C.E., Pro- 
fessor of English Language and Literature ; Rev. John 
Dikovics, Instructor in Hungarian ; Rev. William A. 
Berger, M.A., Instructor in Mathematics. 



MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT 

By William P. Sutphen 

The early settlers of Bloomfield who came from 
Newark were of English stock, while those who came 
from Bergen and settled in the northerly section were 
of Dutch descent. The tides met at Speertown, now 
Upper Montclair, and at Stone House Plains. From 
these came the founders of the old families of Bloom- 
field whose names are still familiar. Among the Eng- 
lish were the Wards, the Davises, the Morrises, the 
Dodds and the Baldwins ; and among the Dutch, the 
Cadmuses, the Cockefairs, the Siglers and the Van 
Giesens, not to mention others. These families developed 
large tracts of land, known as plantations. With the 
clearing of the land the fertile soil made the section a 
prosperous farming community ; and with the increase 
in population there came the demand for industry. 

The first mill of which we have any record is the old 
saw mill built on the Morris plantation, which bore on 
its corner stone the date "1702." The site of this mill 
was the corner of Bay Avenue and Morris Place. It 
served the people of the northern section for many gen- 
erations, and its ruins remained until the year 1890, 
when they were torn down and removed. This old mill 
received its water from the Third River, which after 
furnishing power to saw the logs of the surrounding 
country, passed on just below the mill into Morris Pond, 
whose waters were drained many years ago. With the 
clearing of the forests more ponds were provided along 
the various streams to furnish power for the saw and 

140 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 141 

grist mills, while bark obtained in the woods was used 
in the tanneries. To utilize the straw raised on the 
farms, paper mills were established ; while other inter- 
ests, taking advantage of the splendid water facilities, 
located in the same section. The Second and Third 
rivers, which pass through the town on their way to 
the Passaic River, furnished water power for the mills 
which gradually grew up upon their banks. The 
chief business center, however, developed upon the 
Passaic River, in that territory of Bloomfield Town- 
ship known as Second River. With the transporta- 
tion facilities afforded by a navigable stream it was 
natural that this site, later called Belleville, should de- 
velop as a business center. 

Industrial development began shortly after the close 
of the War of 1812, and so rapid was its progress that 
by 1830 Bloomfield was known as a manufacturing vil- 
lage. At that time it contained six grist mills, two 
cotton manufactories, five saw mills, four copper roll- 
ing mills, three paper mills, one paint mill, two calico 
print works, three woolen manufactories, and several 
shoe factories, besides seventeen merchants. While the 
business development had been mainly along the bank 
of the Passaic River, there had also been considerable 
growth near the mountains along the smaller streams. 
Convenient means of travel were aff"orded early in the 
last century by the building of turnpikes, conducted as 
toll roads, reaching to Newark and as far west as 
Pompton, while added impetus was given to industrial 
development in 1831 when the Morris Canal was built 
through the township. This offered another means of 
transit for passengers as well as for freight, and was 
of particular benefit to the industries in the transporta- 



142 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

tion of crude material, and of the finished product, 
forwarded to the Newark and New York markets. On 
this waterway a packet boat, launched in 1832, ran for 
several years between Newark and Paterson, stopping 
at Bloomfield. This new means of transportation added 
greatly to the advantages of the central section of the 
town for the development of manufactories. 

In 1839 the Second River section of the township, 
bordering on the Passaic River, which had long since be- 
come known as Belleville, was set off as a separate mu- 
nicipality. This partition not only reduced the im- 
portance of Bloomfield as a commercial center, but also 
reduced the population about one-half. According to 
the census of 1840, the year after the separation, the 
population of Belleville was 2,466, while that of Bloom- 
field was 2,528. Notwithstanding this loss, Bloomfield 
contained in that year three paper, one cotton and two 
woolen factories, one dyeing and printing establish- 
ment, one fulling mill, one copper rolling mill, two 
grist mills, two saw mills, and one button factory. 
These plants, however, were small compared with those 
in the Belleville section, for it was but natural that 
those planning large manufacturing establishments 
should locate upon tide water, where every facility for 
water transportation could be secured. At this time the 
capita] employed in manufacturing in Belleville was 
$479,000, while that invested in the industries remain- 
ing in Bloomfield was only $111,000. 

In 1856, through the efforts of enterprising Bloom- 
fielders, the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad was com- 
pleted. This road, which was operated as a branch of 
the Morris and Essex, added greatly to the development 
of the town ; for while it enabled the local manufacturer 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 143 

to transport his finished product to the metropolitan 
market, it also afforded an opportunity for the business 
man of the city to make his home in the country, where 
his family could enjoy the delights of field and wood, 
avoiding the noise and dust of the city. With these 
added facilities there began the growth of the commut- 
ing element, which has become such a large proportion 
of the present population. The delightful location of 
Bloomfield, with its wide streets, magnificent elms, and 
comfortable old homesteads, proved attractive to busi- 
ness men seeking a country home, near enough to the 
city for them to attend business each day without spend- 
ing too much time in travel. 

The construction of the New York and Greenwood 
Lake Railroad in 1872 opened up another section of 
the town, and afforded increased facilities for trans- 
portation and travel. 

Shortly after the close of the Civil War there began 
increased activity in Bloomfield real estate ; several ven- 
tures were undertaken in this line, one of the largest by 
Robert Peele, who developed a large section in the 
western part of the township. With increased demand 
for building lots, there naturally developed a desire for 
street improvements, for up to this time the streets were 
simply graded, no pavements being laid either on the 
sidewalks or the roadways. With the increased demand 
the improvements gradually came. First, the stone 
sidewalk, followed by gas street lamps, and then a 
few of the streets were macadamized. The people of 
Bloomfield, however, were rather conservative about 
running into debt for improvements, as they had been 
in 1868, when on the question of bonding for the Green- 
wood Lake Railway, those in the northern end of the 



144 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

township, known as Montclair, wishing the improvement, 
withdrew and set up a government of their own. While 
this spirit of conservatism has to some extent held back 
needed improvements, it has prevented any rash step 
through all the years of the town's history. 

In early years industrial development came as a result 
of abundant water power, while in recent years trans- 
portation facilities have been mainly responsible for 
such growth. In addition to the two railways men- 
tioned, a branch of the Greenwood Lake Railroad, 
running to Orange, traverses the southern section of the 
town. With three railroad lines and the Morris Canal, 
the facilities for bringing fuel and raw products within 
easy reach, and even to the doors of the manufactories, 
have been of tremendous advantage to enterprising 
business men, with the result that while capital invested 
in manufacturing establishments in the year 1840, just 
after Belleville separated from the township, was 
$111,000, it is now approximately $8,000,000. 

One of the old establishments, which is still in opera- 
tion, is the woolen mill started by David Oakes in the 
year 18fS0. This great plant has been kept in the 
family, and the business is now conducted under the 
firm name of Thomas Oakes and Company. These 
mills are well known throughout the country through 
the established reputation of their prodiict. They now 
employ about 450 people. 

The modern industrial growth has occurred during 
the last twenty years. In 1890 the Consolidated Safety 
Pin Company moved to Bloomfield, establishing its large 
industry along Tony's Brook, near the Lackawanna 
Railroad. While manufacturing establishments may be 
found in various parts of the town, the principal in- 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 145 

dustrial section has developed near the junction of the 
Orange Branch of the Greenwood Lake Railroad, and 
the Newark and Bloomfield Branch of the Lackawanna 
Railroad. During the last two decades the following 
large establishments have located in Bloomfield: The 
Sprague Electric Elevator Company, now a branch of 
the General Electric Company, the Diamond Mills 
Paper Company, the H. B. Wiggins Sons Company, 
manufacturers of wall coverings, the Empire Cream 
Separator Company, the Combination Rubber Manu- 
facturing Company, Scott and Bowne, manufacturers 
of Scott's Emulsion, and the Westinghouse Lamp Com- 
pany, producing incandescent lamps. The last men- 
tioned industry is the largest in the town, and employs 
about 1,500 hands. This industry was removed to 
Bloomfield in 1907. There are now nearly fifty manu- 
facturing establishments in the community, of a widely 
diversified character, which insures permanent employ- 
ment to a large proportion of the citizens of the town, 
while hundreds of employees in these industries come 
from the neighboring municipalities. The labor is 
mainly skilled and largely native born. 

The increase in population has been steady, and at 
certain periods rapid, as the following table of United 
States Census figures will show : 

1820 3,085 1870 4,580 

1830 4,309 1880 5,748 

1840 2,528 1890 7,708 

1850 3,385 1900 9,668 

1860 4,790 1910 15,070 

The decrease in population noted in the figures for 
1840 and 1870 is due to the separation of Belleville in 
1839 and Montclair in 1868. 



146 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

In 1871 the Bloomfield Savings Institution was 
founded, the first president being Warren S. Baldwin. 
This oldest of the financial institutions has aided greatly 
in the development of the town by promoting thrift 
among its inhabitants. Beginning business on May 9, 
1871, it has by conservative management steadily grown 
until on January 1, 1912, with nearly 4,000 depositors, 
its deposits amounted to $1,185,000, and its surplus 
was $115,000. The first meeting of the board of man- 
agers was held at the residence of the founder, Zophar 
B. Dodd, at the northeastern corner of Liberty and 
State streets. The business was carried on in the base- 
ment of the Dodd house until 1889, when the office was 
removed to the Hill Building at Bloomfield Center. 
Succeeding ]\Ir. Baldwin, the following gentlemen have 
served as presidents of this institution : Israel C. Ward, 
1874; Jonathan W. Potter, 1886; William H. White, 
1889 ; and Theodore H. Ward since 1904. The interest 
paid on deposits has ranged from 7 per cent, from 
1871-75, to 3 per cent, from 1885-94. Since 1910 
4 per cent, has been paid on all amounts. In 1910 
the Savings Institution erected on Broad Street, at 
Bloomfield Center, a building to be devoted entirely 
to the business of the bank. This building with a 
monumental front is a very attractive feature of the 
town. 

With the growth of the population, and the increase 
in business, the need of a banking institution with larger 
powers was realized, and to provide this want the 
Bloomfield National Bank was organized on May 18, 
1889, with the following directors: Thomas Oakes, 
G. Lee Stout, Halsey M. Barrett, James C. Beach, 
A. G. Danvin, Edward G. Ward, Henry K. Benson, 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 147 

Willard Richards, Henry P. Dodd, William Colfax, 
John P. Scherff, Edmund H. Davey, Robert S. Rudd, 
Polyhemus Lyon, and William A. Baldwin. The bank 
opened for business on July 1, 1889, with the following 
officers : President, Thomas Oakes ; Vice-President, 
Wilham A. Baldwin; Cashier, Lewis K. Dodd. These 
officials have continued to direct the affairs of the insti- 
tution up to the present time. The first office of the 
bank was at No. 1 Broad Street. In 1901 the bank 
removed to its present building at the corner of Broad 
Street and Bloomfield Avenue, where Martin's grocery 
store had been located for many years. This handsome 
bank building was the first pretentious structure erected 
at Bloomfield Center. The original capital of the 
National Bank was $50,000, which has recently been 
increased to $100,000. The institution which was 
founded to provide banking facilities for the community 
has proved to be a profitable investment for its found- 
ers. The growth in business has been steady, and on 
January 1, 1912, its deposits amounted to $1,466,000; 
while the surplus and undivided profits were $48,000. 

The Bloomfield Trust Company is the most recent 
banking institution established in the town, having been 
organized in 1902, with a capital of $100,000 and a 
surplus of $20,000. The original directors were John 
Sherman, Joseph H. Dodd, William R. Broughton, 
Wilham H. White, Edwin M. Ward, Edward Oakes, 
Robert M. Boyd, Jr., N. Harvey Dodd, John M. Van 
Winkle, James N. Jarvie, W. W. Snow, A. R. Brewer, 
and Allison Dodd. 

Dr. William H. White was elected president, and 
Joseph H. Dodd, secretary. The growth of the trust 
company has been very rapid, the deposits on January 



148 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

1, 1912, amounting to $1,560,000, while the surplus 
and undivided profits amounted to $141,000, the origi- 
nal surplus of $20,000 having been returned to the 
stockholders. Their new building at the corner of 
Bloomfield and Glenwood avenues at Bloomfield Center 
is a substantial fire-proof office building of attractive 
exterior, containing fully equipped offices both for the 
trust company and for the use of tenants. In March, 
1912, they moved from their original location at No. 1 
Broad Street to their new building across the square. 

Few municipalities of the size of Bloomfield have 
three bank buildings equal to those at Bloomfield Center, 
and the banking facilities afforded the people of the 
town by these institutions are all that are needed even 
for a community with such varied and extensive inter- 
ests as are found in modern Bloomfield. 

This town is notably a community of homes. While 
there are not many large estates, the number of citizens 
who own their own homes is unsually large. This is due 
in large measure to the encouragement and support 
offered by building and loan associations, which have 
played an important part in the development of the 
town. The Essex County Building and Loan Associa- 
tion is the oldest of these, having been organized Oc- 
tober 18, 1885. This association is one of the largest 
and most prosperous in the State of "New Jersey, and 
is recognized as a model institution of its kind. By 
its last report it showed assets amounting to $900,000, 
while during its history over $5,500,000 of savings 
have been disbursed, a large part of which was used to 
acquire homes. The Bloomfield Building and Loan 
Association, while smaller, is a prosperous organization 
of some years standing; while the Merchants and Me- 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 14.9 

chanics, and the Prospect-Watsessing Building and 
Loan Association have recently been organized. All of 
these institutions are managed by local men who have 
given freely of their time and thought, the results of 
which have proved of great benefit, particularly to the 
man of small means who, without the assistance secured 
through such resources, would be unable to raise the 
necessary funds to build a home for liis family. 

In the winter of 1882-3 two disastrous fires occurred 
near the center of the town, one destroying Archdea- 
cons' Hotel, while the other resulted in the loss of a 
large shop and several dwellings, notwithstanding the 
determined efforts of volunteers to prevent the spread 
of the flames. These heavy losses brought sharply to 
the attention of the citizens the absolute necessity for 
fire-fighting apparatus to prevent the repetition of such 
destructive fires. On June 27, 1883, Essex Hook and 
Ladder Company No. 1 was organized, and a truck was 
purchased with volunteer subscriptions. This organiza- 
tion received the enthusiastic support of the citizens of 
the entire community, and the young men heartily vol- 
unteered to perform fire duty. Not only did they ren- 
der good service in this connection, but the truck house 
became a social center where the men might spend their 
evenings. On November 2, 1883, Bloomficld Hose Com- 
pany No. 1 was organized, and the township provided 
it with a jumper and hose. In September, the follow- 
ing year, it changed its name to the Phoenix Hose Com- 
pany No. 1, and purchased a handsome hose carriage. 

Not until 1883 were water mains laid in the streets of 
the town. The first contract, made with the Orange 
Water Company, provided for ten miles of mains and 
ninety-six fire hydrants. The first chief of the fire de- 



150 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

partment was Andrew J. Marsh, since then the office has 
been held by T. Howell Johnson, William U. Oakes, 
Edgar D. Ackerman, B. F. Higgins, and James Y. 
Nicoll. In 1885 Active Hose Company No. 2 was or- 
ganized in the southern end of the town, and Excelsior 
Hose Company was organized and located in Upper 
Broad Street, at the corner of James. The need of 
protection in the southeastern section caused the forma- 
tion, in 1904, of Montgomery Hose Company No. 4s 
and Brookdale Hose Company No. 5 was organized in 
1911. 

An electric fire alarm system throughout the town 
permits of a quick call in time of need. The fire de- 
partment is still volunteer and has a splendid record, 
of which the entire town is proud. On July 8, 1908, 
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the 
department was celebrated, and was a gala day in the 
old town. Hundreds of visiting firemen attended the 
ceremonies which appropriately marked the occasion. 

The onl}'^ public municipal buildings owned by the 
town are the fire houses, consisting of the double truck 
and hose house on Bloomfield Avenue, near the Center, 
and the houses occupied by Active, Excelsior and Mont- 
gomery hose companies. Early in 1912 the efficiency 
of the department was increased by the purchase of a 
combination chemical wagon. 

As has been stated, the water system of the town 
was owned by the Orange Water Company. This com- 
pany supplied water to the municipality and to the 
citizens for many years. In the year 1903 the question 
of municipal ownership was agitated. The water com- 
pany asked $220,000 for its mains in the streets. This 
amount was reduced to $150,000 by the company, but 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 151 

the proposition was rejected by the voters at an elec- 
tion. At a public meeting of the citizens the Council 
was asked to offer the water company $90,000 for their 
plant. This was done, and the offer was accepted. 
Bloomfield thereupon embarked upon the unknown sea 
of municipal ownership with many misgivings on the 
part of the conservative element of the community. 
As the town had no source of supply, it was necessary 
to make a contract for its requirements. After a 
thorough investigation, in which the Board of Trade 
and Civic Union co-operated, a contract was entered 
into with the Montclair Water Company, a subsidiary 
of the East Jersey Water Company, by which the town 
secured a long term contract for filtered water from 
the Upper Passaic, at $65 per million gallons. The 
result has been that municipal ownership, as carried on 
in Bloomfield, has proved of immense advantage to the 
town. Not only have the rates to the consumers been 
materially reduced since the acquisition of the plant, 
but the municipality makes no provision in its tax 
budget for water consumed, and the water department 
is making a net profit of more than $15,000 per year. 
This result has been secured only by the conducting of 
the department on a strictly business basis. 

A system of sewers was constructed in the year 1898, 
while macadamized road construction on a lara-e scale 
was undertaken the following year. These improvements 
mark the beginning of a progressive policy in the town 
which has been generally supported by the people in 
succeeding years. 

Many fraternities have established lodges in the town, 
some of them reaching back to the first quarter of the 
last century. These orders have had a large influence 



152 BLOOIMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

in shaping the poHtical and social hfe of the community. 
Outside of societies connected with the churches the fol- 
lowing are the most important fraternal and patriotic 
orders : 

Grand Army of the Republic, 

Sons of Veterans, 

Ancient Order of Hibernians, 

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, 

Daughters of Liberty, 

Free and Accepted Masons, 

Improved Order of Heptasophs, 

Independent Order of Foresters, 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 

Junior Order United American Mechanics, 

Knights of Columbus, 

Knights of Honor, 

Knights of the Maccabees, 

Knights of Pythias, 

K. U. V. Freundschaft Bund, 

Loyal Association, 

Modern Woodmen of America, 

Royal Arcanum, 

Brotherhood of America. 

The following are the names of the several Polish 
organizations, as furnished by their representatives: 
The Saint Valentine Polish Association, The Saint 
Rosary Men's Social Society, The Poniotawski Social 
Club, The Polish Fife and Drum Corps, The Sobieski 
Organization, and the Falkon Club. 

Among the earlier associations which have had an 
important influence in the development of Bloomfield 
was the Eucleian Society of young men, organized in 
1865, formed for "the improvement in mental culture 
of its members and the cultivation of a literary taste in 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 153 

our village." The meetings were held in Eucleian Hall, 
over Horace Pierson's store, at the northeast corner of 
Glenwood and Washington avenues at the Center, and 
the society frequently provided lecture courses in which 
noted public speakers appeared. Growing out of this so- 
ciety there developed the Bloomfield Library Association, 
which planned the building of a large public hall, and 
the foundation of a public library. The hall was built 
in 1874<, and was used for many years for public gath- 
erings of all kinds, but unfortunately, the enterprise 
was not a success financially, and the library was never 
secured. A free public library was organized in the 
Watsessing section of the town in 1886 and proved of 
value to that part of the community for some years. 
In 1902, James N. Jarvie erected to the memory of his 
parents, William J. and Mary N. Jarvie, a parish house 
for the Westminster Presbyterian Church, including in 
the architectural scheme a public library. An endow- 
ment of $50,000 was given to insure an adequate sum 
for the securing of new books and periodicals from year 
to year. The library started with 5,200 volumes and 
now contains about 15,000. The reading-rooms are 
entirely free, and, for .$1 a year any resident of Bloom- 
field or vicinity may draw books from the circulating 
department. The trustees of Westminster Church are 
ex-officio trustees of the Jarvie Memorial Library. The 
library, however, is conducted strictly as a public 
library. A large and rapidly growing circulation 
demonstrates its value to the community. 

During the closing years of the last century a vocal 
organization known as the Madrigal Society developed 
the musical taste of the community, giving two con- 
certs each year. For fifteen years the annual course of 



154 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

literary and musical entertainments under the auspices 
of the Guild of the First Presbyterian Church has been 
an important feature of the life of the community. 

In 1902 the need of united action on the part of those 
citizens desiring the proper development of the town 
was realized, and to secure co-operation a Board of 
Trade was organized on February 5th. Its first regu- 
lar meeting was held on March 19th of that year, and 
the following officers elected: Thomas McGowan, presi- 
dent ; Joseph F. Vogelius, vice-president ; Peter J. 
Quinn, secretary ; and Charles R. Underwood, treasurer. 
Those who have held the position of president follow- 
ing Mr. McGowan have been William P. Sutphen, Will- 
iam Biggart, Frederic M. Davis, and Charles A. Hun- 
gerford. This organization has had a large influence 
in the development of the town. Beginning with 34<, 
it now has on its roll about 400 members. Not only 
has it exerted its influence in matters governmental, but 
it has taken up all lines of civic development. In this 
organization originated the idea of observing the present 
centennial, and the report of its committee on the cen- 
tennial will be found in an appendix. Two features 
which were introduced early in its history were the 
annual dinner and the Fourth of July celebration. The 
first dinner was held on April 16, 1903, at which eighty- 
six persons were present. This aff^air Has become an 
important event in the town, prominent speakers being 
secured to address the gathering, which has grown so 
large that it is difficult to find a hall sufficiently large 
to accommodate those desiring to attend. Probably 
the most popular project undertaken by the board Avas 
the celebration of Independence Day, which was first 
undertaken with many misgivings in 1905, with a parade 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 155 

and an oration in the morning, athletic events in the 
afternoon, and fireworks in the evening. The under- 
taking was so successful from the first that it has be- 
come the most popular celebration of the year, and not 
only has it been enjoyed b}' our own citizens, but thou- 
sands have come from surrounding communities to share 
in the festivities. The expense of the celebration has 
been met by popular subscription, the amount in recent 
years exceeding $1,000. 

At the time of the San Francisco disaster in 1906, 
a committee was appointed to receive donations for the 
relief of the Pacific Coast sufferers, with the result that 
$2,316 was raised in a few days for this purpose. As 
has been previously mentioned, a special committee of 
the Board of Trade was of material assistance to the 
town authorities in making a favorable contract in 
1905 for a supply of water. 

While Bloomfield has been most fortunate in having 
as one of its chief attractio is a park equal to the village 
greens of New England towns, it was felt by the mem- 
bers of the Board of Trade that this community should 
receive some share of the funds expended by Essex 
County, in the development of a park system which has 
few equals. Accordingly, that organization appointed 
a park committee on June 8, 1905, consisting of Will- 
iam R. Broughton, Charles R. Underwood, D. G. Garra- 
brant, Edward G. Ward and Samuel Ellor ; Allison 
Dodd was added to the committee later. Bloomfield 
being one of the smaller municipalities of the county, 
the possibility of securing county funds for park pur- 
poses seemed very doubtful, and even those who were 
in a position to assist in the endeavor were very pessi- 
mistic as to the outcome. In the fall of that year 



156 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Mr. Underwood, a member of the committee, was elected 
a member of the House of Assembly. A bill was intro- 
duced authorizing the expenditure of additional park 
funds in Essex County. Here was Bloomfield's oppor- 
tunity, and Mr. Underwood took full advantage of it. 
He insisted that if the bill was to be passed it should 
provide funds to be expended in Bloomfield. After much 
effort he was successful in reaching an understanding 
with his colleagues in the Assembly, and a bill appro- 
priating ,$300,000 became a law. It then became neces- 
sary to have the Essex County Park Commission ex- 
pend the funds authorized in the municipalities for 
which they were intended. This was no easy task, for 
some citizens of Newark who were interested in a park 
scheme toward which part of the funds covered by the 
appropriation were to go, insisted that they should re- 
ceive that portion which had been intended for Bloom- 
field. Mr. Underwood appeared before the Commis- 
sion, and with the support of his colleagues in the Legis- 
lature, convinced them that Bloomfield was entitled to 
those funds which had been originally provided for in 
the Act. As a result, $60,000 was expended by the 
Park Commission in securing low lands lying west of 
the Lackawanna Railroad, between the Bloomfield and 
Watsessing stations. While property in other sections 
of the town might have been secured for 'park purposes 
at a lower figure, it was realized by the municipal au- 
thorities and the Board of Trade Committee that unless 
this land, which lay at the approach to the town, was 
developed as a park, it would build up most unattrac- 
tively, and become a real detriment, as those visiting the 
town would receive in that event most unfavorable im- 
pressions. Not only was this an important reason for 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 157 

the location of the park in the section named, but this 
land was adjacent to the section where the population 
was most congested. These two considerations deter- 
mined the County Park Commission to expend the money 
in the purchase of the property recommended. The 
park committee of the Board of Trade was instru- 
mental in securing the land at most reasonable figures. 
Up to the year 1910 over $160,000 was appropriated 
by the county for the purchase and improvement of 
land in Bloomfield for park purposes. Altogether, 
about thirty-five acres of land west of the Lackawanna 
Railroad was secured by the Park Commission. The 
same conditions prevailed regarding the low land lying 
east of the Lackawanna Railroad, and in order to secure 
a satisfactory improvement, it was realized that the 
land on the east should be improved as well as that on 
the west of the railroad. The Park Commission at first 
refused to expend any funds on the easterly side. It 
was then realized that the municipal authorities would 
have to do their share in the work in order to secure the 
desired improvement. The sum of $25,000 was appro- 
priated by the town. As the plans developed, it was 
found necessary to increase this amount to about 
$52,000, and the County Park Commission was per- 
suaded to expend $25,000 in this section, the result 
being that about twenty-five acres were secured for a 
playground, bounded by the Lackawanna Railroad and 
Bloomfield Avenue, Conger Street and Roosevelt Ave- 
nue, the last being a new street laid out in 1909 as the 
southern boundary of the Park. The land to which 
the town took title was turned over to the care, custody 
and control of the Essex County Park Commission for 
development and maintenance, in order that the town 



158 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

might not be put to this expense. Large public im- 
provements are secured slowly, and frequently with 
great difficulty, and while the property has been secured, 
the development has not yet been undertaken. It is 
confidently expected that the Commission will shortly 
improve the land and that before long it will be made 
a beautiful park and playground for the dehght, not 
only of our citizens, but of all those who travel through 
our town by the Lackawanna Railroad. The chief 
credit for securing this most valuable asset to the town 
of Bloomfield is due the park committee of the Board 
of Trade and particularly Charles R. Undenvood and 
Allison Dodd. 

The amount of bonded indebtedness for the Bloom- 
field parks was made $60,000 to purchase the property 
for the playground and to secure and improve land in 
the triangular plot in the Second Ward, bounded by 
Broad Street, Bay Avenue, and Morris Place. A num- 
ber of owners of lots in this plot donated their prop- 
erty for park purposes, but some of it had to be ac- 
quired by purchase. In securing this property the 
Board of Trade's park committee was also of great as- 
sistance to the town authorities. 

The approach to the Town of Bloomfield by the 
Lackawanna Railroad Company as far back as the 
"eighties" had been a source of annoyance to those citi- 
zens of the town who desired that newcomers might 
receive pleasing first impressions, for the railroad sta- 
tion at Glenwood Avenue had become an eyesore, and 
its surroundings were not at all attractive. A move- 
ment was started at that time by the Rev. Samuel W. 
Duffield, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, 
and a progressive citizen, to secure the construction of 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 159 

a new station and the improvement of surrounding con- 
ditions ; but on account of the interests of some of the 
property owners in the neighborhood, he was unable to 
secure the desired improvements. The matter was al- 
lowed to drift along for many years. From time to 
time there were rumors that the Lackawanna Company 
were to improve their approach, but nothing developed 
until about the year 1902, when the railroad company 
made a proposal to the town officials looking to the 
elevation of the tracks at Glenwood Avenue and Wash- 
ington Street, and the erection of a new station at that 
point, the toAvn to assume $40,000 of the cost of the 
change. The town authorities did not see their way 
clear to assume this expense, and the matter was 
dropped. It was revived by the Board of Trade in 
1903, but the Lackawanna Railroad was not in a po- 
sition to undertake the work at that time, on account 
of the improvements which they were carrying out 
through the city of Newark. Early in the year 1907 
the subject was taken up in earnest, and negotiations 
undertaken to secure the abolishment of the grade 
crossings at Glenwood Avenue and Washington Street, 
and the erection of a new station at Bloomfield proper. 
These negotiations had proceeded to a point where the 
town authorities considered it proper to hold a public 
hearing, when the citizens of the southern section of the 
town made urgent demand upon the Town Council that 
the Railroad Company eliminate the grade crossings in 
that section of the town at the same time that the other 
work should be undertaken, or at least give some guar- 
antee that they should be eliminated within a reasonable 
time. The principal difficulties in the way, according 
to the railroad company, were the Erie Railroad cross- 



160 BLOOINIFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

ing, and the refusal of the city of East Orange to enter 
into any agreement for a change of grade in its streets. 
After long delay, the Lackawanna and the Erie Rail- 
road came to an understanding regarding the crossing 
at Watsessing, and a temporary grade was planned in 
East Orange which made it unnecessary to change the 
grade of the only street in that municipality on the 
Bloomfield division. Even after these obstacles had 
been overcome, the question of industrial switches, prop- 
erty damage, the location of stations and other details 
which affected many interests, made the negotiations of 
a contract with the railroad company extremely diffi- 
cult. To assist in the negotiations, the Town Council 
employed a consulting engineer and a consulting archi- 
tect who, with the town attorneys holding office during 
this period, Charles F. Kocher and A, B. Van Liew, 
together with the town engineer, Ernest Baechlin, 
worked out with the Town Council the solution of the 
various problems which arose as the negotiations pro- 
gressed. Not only was there difficulty in the negotia- 
tion, but there was much opposition for various reasons 
to the improvement. After years of effort, an agree- 
ment, negotiated by INIr. Van Liew, was entered into 
with the Lackawanna Railroad Company on July 12, 
1910, by which six grade crossings were to be eliminated, 
new stations erected on Lackawanna Place (a new street 
to be laid out on the east side of the railroad between 
Washington Street and Glenwood Avenue), and at 
Watsessing Avenue. The estimated cost to the railroad 
company for this work was .$750,000, while the esti- 
mated expense to the town was figured at about .$20,000. 
After many years the improvements which had been 
desired by the progressive citizens of Bloomfield were 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 161 

finally realized, the work being commenced in August, 
1910, and completed in 1912. 

With railroad changes and improvements, and the 
development of parks on either side of the track, the 
approach to the town of Bloomfield, when finally com- 
pleted, will be so altered that it will be difficult to re- 
member the miserable conditions which surrounded our 
railroad stations before the changes were undertaken ; 
and it is impossible to estimate the value which these 
improved conditions will be to the municipality in mak- 
ing attractive the approach to the town, which approach 
is so important a feature of every community. 

Not only have the men of the community been busy 
in securing betterments. In May, 1907, the women, 
wishing to have some part in town progress, organized 
a Town Improvement Association, which has been help- 
ful in stimulating the activity of town officials along 
right lines, and in aiding the school children to an ap- 
preciation of their part in making the town a better 
place to live in. 

Bloomfield has made great strides in the last few 
years, and the outlook for the old town is most promis- 
ing. The eff^ect of the development which has taken 
place will not be temporary, but is bound to continue 
for many years to come. 



THE ANNALS OF STONE HOUSE PLAINS 

OR 

BROOKDALE 
By James E. Beooks 

The northern portion of the Town of Bloomfield, 
New Jersey, has been known as "Brookdale" since 1873, 
when the post-office was located there. The old name, 
"Stone House Plains," was too long, and "Brookdale" 
was adopted at a meeting of citizens held at the time. 
It is said that the name was suggested by a man who 
had been in Brookdale, Kansas. 

The township of Newark, settled in 1666 by a com- 
pany of English colonists from Connecticut, was bounded 
on the north by a line running northwest from the 
mouth of the Yantecaw or Third River. This line is 
now the boundary between Essex and Passaic counties. 

A few years after the settlement of Newark, a com- 
pany of Dutchmen secured a deed from the Indians, 
and a patent from the proprietors, for a large tract of 
land adjoining the township of Newark on the north. 
This was called Acquackanonk, and included the pres- 
ent township of Acquackanonk, the city of Passaic, and 
a part of the city of Paterson, all now in Passaic 
County. 

As the settlers spread over the two townships the 
Dutch appear to have moved more rapidly than the 
English, for they pushed their settlements southward 
until a wide strip across the northern part of the New- 
ark township was made up of Dutch communities. 

162 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 163 

These communities were known as "Second River," now 
Belleville; "Third River," now Nutley; "Stonehouse 
Plain," now Brookdale ; and "Speer Town," now Upper 
Montclair. 

Of these, Brookdale has changed the least; the land 
is still farmed by the families who originally settled 
there two hundred years ago, and the products of the 
soil are still taken to market in the farmers' wagons. 

These Dutch communities, although within the po- 
litical bounds of Newark until 1812, and Bloomfield 
after that, always maintained their social and religious 
allegiances among themselves, or to their Dutch neigh- 
bors to the north, rather than to their English neigh- 
bors to the south. 

Now and then individuals would cross the boundary 
between English and Dutch, as when Alexander Cocke- 
fair married Phoebe Morris about 1750 ; or when 
Ephraim Morris married Catherine Cockefair in 1798. 
Occasionally outsiders entered and cast their lot with 
the people of Stone House Plains, as when Starr Par- 
sons, the young Connecticut teacher, married Betsy 
Speer, and Joshua C. Brokaw, another teacher, from 
New York, married Maria Sigler; but these were the 
exceptions. 

The Acquackanonk Purchase 

The Indians had a village at the site of the present 
city of Passaic, it was located there because of the good 
fishing at the head of tide water on the Passaic River. 
They also gathered in large numbers about the time 
of our Thanksgiving Day for an annual feast, and a 
series of games and contests at the mouth of Third 
River. The name Yantecaw is a corruption of two 
Indian words meaning a ceremonial dance. 



164 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

The aborigines never had any idea of the right of 
property in land. Such a thing is unknown to primitive 
races. But the Indians were wilHng enough to accept 
various trifles in the way of knives, beads, blankets and 
rum, and to sign a deed relinquishing their rights to 
the land ; and they would sometimes sell the same land 
to other purchasers who might be supplied with other 
trinkets. The Indians were generally surprised to find 
that they had deeded away a much larger tract than 
they had intended. These facts led to differences be- 
tween the white purchasers themselves, and between the 
white purchasers and the Indians. The proprietors of 
East Jersey made grants of land to settlers, but left it 
to the settlers themselves to make their own terms with 
the Indians. Sometimes purchasers of Indian lands 
failed to obtain title from the proprietors, and in some 
cases this led to serious collisions with the authorities. 
Several members of the Van Giesen family of Stone 
House Plains in 1746 got into difficulties in this way 
over the "Van Giesen Purchase," an account of which 
may be found in the "New Jersey Archives." 

Christopher Hooglandt, a merchant of New York, 
on the recommendation of Jacob StofFelson, a man well 
acquainted with the Indians, secured a grant from Sir 
George Carteret, the governor, for a small tract of land 
lying within the limits of the present 'city of Passaic. 
This was in 1678. He sold this to Hai'tman Michael- 
son in 1680. Hartman Michaclsen then secured from 
the Indians, Captahen, sachem and chief, and the minor 
sachems, a deed for the tract of land now consisting 
of the city of Passaic, part of Paterson, and all the 
present township of Acquackanonk. The consideration 
was a lot of coats, blankets, kettles, powder and other 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 165 

goods. This enterprising promoter then organized a 
company, and obtained from the proprietors of East 
Jersey, on March 30, 1684<, a patent for this land sold 
to him by the Indians. The fourteen men in this com- 
pany were: 

Hans Diedricks, Adrian Post, 

Garret Garretsen, Urian Thomassen, 

Walling Jacobse, Cornelius Roelfsen, 

Elias Michaelsen, Symon Jacobse, 

Hartman Michaelsen, John Hendrick Spier, 

Cornelius Michaelsen, Cornelius Lubers, 

Johannis Michaelsen, Abraham Bookey, 

This list of names offers a good opportunity for ex- 
plaining a Dutch custom. The family name of the 
four brothers, Elias, Cornelius, Hartman and Johannis, 
was not Michaelsen, it was Vreeland. The word 
Michaelsen meant their father's first, or Christian, 
name was Michael. Family names were not in general 
use among the Dutch at that time of the settlement of 
New Jersey. People adopted family names from many 
sources, such as the place where they lived, their trade, 
or some personal peculiarity. The result was that some- 
times different branches of the same family adopted 
different names. 

Of the fourteen associates in the Acquackanonk 
patent, Hans Diedricks never settled on the new pos- 
sessions, and Abraham Bookey stayed but a short time. 

Some of Garret Garretsen's descendants took the 
family name of Van Wagener, and some the name of 
Garrison. In the same way, some of Cornelius Lubers 
descendants are Westervelts, and some Van Blarcoms, 
Walling and Symon Jacobs were the ancestors of the 
Van Winkle family ; Urian Thomassen of the Van Riper 



166 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

family; and Cornelius Roelfsen of the Van Houten 
family. But of all the fourteen the descendants of John 
Hendrick Spier are the most numerous. Speertown, 
now Upper Montclair, was but one of their strongholds. 
The spelling of names is something wonderful, if not 
awful. William Nelson, of Paterson, the historian, has 
found Acquackanonk spelled more than thirty different 
ways. The present investigation has found the family 
name of Cockefair with the following variations in 
spelling: Cokcover, Kockes, Cockhvier, Cockcoever, 
Coqueuert, Coquer, Cokever, Cokiver, Cokefair, Kokhe- 
feer, Cockiefeer, Kockyser, Kockyefeer, Cokkifer, 
Cottiefer, Cokefer, Coccifer, Confer, Cockafair, Cocka- 
fer, Cockefer, Kocjefer, Cockkifer, Cokifer, Cockifair, 
Cockifer and Cocifer. It is the family tradition that 
the proper spelling is Coquefaire. Not satisfied with 
such a liberal assortment of spellings, a few years ago 
one member of the family changed his name to Coxford. 

The Settlement at Second River 

Within a year or two after the first settlement of 
Acquackanonk, several Dutchmen purchased from mem- 
bers of the Newark company tracts of land within the 
present limits of Belleville and Nutley. The resulting 
settlements were known as Second River and Third 
River. Bastien Van Giesen, Tunis Jansen Pier, Claes 
Hendrickson and Hans Hendrickson Spier were among 
the number. 

Hans Hendrickson Spier, a brother of John Hendrick 
Spier of Acquackanonk, was married at the Dutch 
Church in New York to Trijntie Pietcrs, on the first 
day of August, 1683. Hans and Trijntie probably 
settled at Second River soon after this, for their son 




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BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 167 

Hendrick, baptized in October, 1685, was born there. 
When Hendrick grew up and was married to Rachel 
Teunese Pier in 1708, at the Hackensack Church, the 
record stated that both he and his bride had been born 
and were hving in the jurisdiction of Newark. Ad- 
ditional evidence is shown by a deed for sixty acres of 
land sold by Samuel Ward of Newark to Tunis John- 
son Pier, July 15, 1685. This tract was bounded as 
follows: N. Hans Hendrickson Spier, E. Passaic River, 
S. Second River. The west, not mentioned, was prob- 
ably unsurveyed land. 

The Old Stone House 

The earliest owners of land in Brookdale were mem- 
bers of the Newark company who lived around the 
Newark green and held these outlying lots and tracts 
for future use ; most of which were sold later to Dutch 
settlers. The eastern portion of the Jackson farm on 
Third River, purchased in 1911 by the Country Club 
of Glen Ridge, was, in 1696, part of a tract belonging 
to Samuel Plum. North of Samuel Plum was land of 
Robert Young, and further north Eliphalet Johnston, 
Daniel Dode and Samuel Kitchell ; to the west of Eli- 
phalet Johnston, the land of Samuel Huntington. 
Mention of the deeds and patents for these tracts is in 
Vol. XXI, N. J. Archives. These deeds and patents 
mention Stonehouse Brook as early as 1696, and Stone- 
house Plain in 1697. 

The use of the name Stonehouse as early as 1696 
would indicate that some one had built a stone house 
along the little brook that bears that name, some time 
before, and there is much evidence to indicate that such 
was the case. There is a story, however, to the effect 
that the so-called "stone house" was not a human habi- 



168 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

tation but an overhanging ledge of rock, used as shelter 
■)y early travellers both white and Indian. The location 
of this "house" was in the old quarry north of the 
Stone House Plains Dutch Church, and on the opposite 
side of Bellevuc Avenue. It was from this quarry that 
the stone was taken to build the church and the various 
stone houses in the neighborhood. 

On the other hand there are those who believe that the 
"stone house" was not only built by human hands before 
1696, but that it is still standing and in use. The 
house referred to stands near the south bank of Stone 
House Brook just across the Montclair boundary line 
and north of Bellevue Avenue. It is but a few hundred 
feet from the old quarry. The old house faces the east, 
and an examination shows that the southern end is much 
older than the larger portion to the north. The origi- 
nal house was square, twenty-one and a half feet each 
way, with one story and attic. Two courses of stone 
seem to have been added at some time to increase the 
height of the walls. There is a Dutch oven extending 
out beyond the south gable wall. 

It is thought that the old stone house was built by 
Abraham Van Giesen, a brother of Bastien of Second 
River, about 1691, but the fact has not been proved. 
Through the courtesy of the Fidelity Trust Company 
the ownership of the house was traced back to 1818, and 
from the surrogate's office it was learned that the house 
belonged to Garret Van Wagener, whose will was proved 
in 1804. Further investigation indicates that Garret's 
parents were Hendrick Van Wagener and Anna Van 
Winkel, that he was born January 14, 1753, and mar- 
ried Jane Van Winkel. Nothing has been found that 
would show how the house came into his possession. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 169 

The Van Giesen Family 

Reynier Bastiensen Van Giesen lived at Flatbush, 
Long Island, where, in June, 1661, he entered into an 
agreement with the magistrates, and the consistory of 
the Reformed Dutch Church of that place, to teach 
school, perform the duties of court messenger, ring the 
bell, keep the church in order, perform the duties of 
precentor, attend to the burial of the dead, and to all 
that was necessary and proper in the premises, for an 
annual salary of two hundred florins, exclusive of per- 
quisites. In January, 1663, he sold his house and lot in 
Flatbush to Jan Strycker. 

Reynier B. Van Giesen, the man of so many duties 
in Flatbush, moved to Bergen where he died in 1707. 
He had five sons and three daughters. The sons were : 
1. Bastien; 2. Abraham, born November 13, 1666; 
3. Isaac; 4. Johannis; 5. Jacob, baptized 1670. Bas- 
tien and Abraham Van Giesen were the two brothers who 
settled within the jurisdiction of Newark. 

There is a betrothal record in the Dutch Church at 
Bergen as follows : 

Bastien Van Giesen, living at Achquechnonk, and 
Aeltje Hendrichx, living at Hackensack, both from 
Midwout, at Bergen, by Do. Tessemaker, June 10, 1688. 
M. June 25. 

Bastien purchased land on the Passaic River between 
Second River and the Acquackanonk line. He was a 
deacon in the Acquackanonk church in 1694 and 1697, 
and an elder in 1700 and at various times until 1730. 
He died in 1751. 

Abraham Van Giesen, who may have been the builder 
of the old stone house, was married at Bergen, October 
25, 1691, to Fitje Andriesse from Communipaw, by 



170 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

Voorlezer R. Van Giesen, before the Congregation, in 
the presence of the Court. He lived on a plantation 
within the present limits of Brookdale and Upper Mont- 
clair. His sons were : Rjnier, Andries, Isaac, Abraham, 
and probably a Johannis who died before his father. 
He had four daughters; one of them, Prientje, born 
September 19, 1696, married Simeon Van Wink el; and 
it may be that the old stone house passed down through 
this line. 

A number of years ago Lewis Cockefair tore down a 
house that stood well back from the road on the south 
side of Broad Street, not far from the Brookdale Bap- 
tist Church, that was known as the Van Giesen house. 
The foundations had the letters A. V. G. and date 1711 
or 1714 marked at one end of the house, and 1727 at 
the other end. Abraham Garrabrant owned this prop- 
erty when he died in 1805. 

Abraham Van Giesen died July 19, 1753, and his will 
directed that his estate on Third River be divided into 
two parts, Andries to have the north side, and Isaac the 
south side ; other land was also divided among his sons, 
including 500 acres in Morris County. This latter may 
have been the "Van Giesen Purchase" which is believed 
to have been located at Horse Neck, now Fairfield. 

During the Revolution one of the Van Giescns of 
Stone House Plains believed in being loyal to King 
George, and he showed it by joining the British army 
in September, 1777. He was another Abraham Van 
Giesen, and his home was on the west side of Broad 
Street, north of the present line of Watchung Avenue. 
In March, 1779, the State of New Jersey seized and 
sold this property under an act of confiscation passed 
December 11, 1778. The commissioners gave a deed to 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 171 

Thomas Sigler, in consideration of three hundred 
pounds, that being the highest bid. This deed has been 
kept by the descendants of Thomas Sigler. The exca- 
vation which formed the cellar of the old house, and 
the old well on this property, were filled up a few years 
ago by Mr. Davidson. The house itself had disap- 
peared before the earliest recollection of Eunice Sigler, 
who was born in 1808. It was some distance north of 
the present dwelling, No. 998 Broad Street. 
The Cockefair Family 

The first of the Cockefair family in America was 
Alexander, a Frenchman who came in 1657. Six years 
later he obtained a plantation in Bushwick, Long Island, 
now a portion of Brooklyn. At that time he was drum 
major of the militia. It may have been his fine military 
bearing and uniform, which are always so attractive to 
those who do not bear arms, or it may have been his 
personality, but in April, 1665, he paid a marriage fee 
of six guilders to the Flatbush church. The last men- 
tion of his name is In 1698, when he sold some meadow 
land in Bushwick. Although he signed his name "Alex- 
ander Cokcover" it is generally understood that the cor- 
rect spelling of the name is "Coquefaire." There were 
a great many French people in the Dutch colony, a 
fact that is often overlooked. It has been estimated that 
in the time of Governor Peter Stuyvesant, he of the 
wooden leg, one-quarter of the population of New Am- 
sterdam was French. A John Cockefair was living in 
New York in 1690. 

Alexander Cockefair, undoubtedly a grandson of the 
dignified drum major, was the first of the family to 
settle at Stone House Plains. Just when he came has 
not been learned, but his eldest son, still another Alex- 



172 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

ander, was baptized at the Acquackanonk church in 
1721. He had also a son John, born May 6, 1735 ; and 
these two headed the main branches of the family, known 
as the Alexander line and the John line. There were 
two daughters, one married Jacob Phillips and the other 
John Lawrence. The Lawrence house is the old stone 
house on Watchung Avenue east of Broad Street. 

The first Cockef air house at Stone House Plains stood 
on land now owned by Sylvanus Cockefair, between the 
present dwelling and the spring to the south. There is 
a well now in use that is said to have been within the 
kitchen of the first house. Thomas Cockefair, who was 
born in 1762, knew of this old house but said it had dis- 
appeared before his earliest recollections. 

The first Cockefair farm is supposed to have run 
from a ledge of rock in a field east of Broad Street, 
later owned by the Lindenmeyers, to an oak tree near 
the corner of Broad Street and Watchung Avenue ; the 
eastern boundary being a line about 800 feet west of 
the Third River, and probably the present line of Broad 
Street on the west. 

This farm was divided from time to time between 
sons and daughters. In 1753 the second Alexander of 
Stone House Plains added to his portion by a purchase 
which extended the farm to the Third River. The deed 
for this land is dated May 14th, the- 27th year of 
King George II, and calls for forty-one acres. During 
the Revolutionary War this second Alexander's eldest 
son Zebulon, a boy of eighteen, was carried off from 
his home by the British soldiers when they were march- 
ing south through Stone House Plains, on their way 
back from the vicinity of Great Falls. His parents 
never saw him again, but they received word some time 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 173 

later that he had died on one of the prison ships. The 
road of that day lay several hundred feet east of the 
present line of Broad Street. It connected at the south 
with what is now Morris Place. 

Isaac Cockef air, a grandson of the second Alexander, 
of Stone House Plains, abandoned the dwelling of his 
father and grandfather when William Parsons built 
him a new house in 1849. This house and land passed 
through various hands after the death of Isaac until 
1911, when they were purchased by the Country Club 
of Glen Ridge. It was then known as the Jackson farm. 
The older house stood a few feet to the northeast of the 
present one. The excavation which formed the cellar 
of this old house of Colonial days was filled up in 1911. 

At Wyoming in Pennsylvania near the present city 
of Wilkes Barre, one of the horrors of the Revolution 
was enacted. During the massacre two young girls hid 
behind a log while the Indians killed all the other mem- 
bers of their family. These girls were Mary and Naomi 
Hendershott, twin sisters eleven years old, and they suc- 
ceeded in escaping with a few others to the settlements 
on the Delaware River. This was in July, 1778. Just 
when they came to Bloomfield is not known, but Thomas 
Cockefair, grandfather of Lewis, married Mary Hen- 
dershott, and a John Cockefair married Naomi. Mary 
lived until 1808, and Naomi until 1835. 

The home of the latter, who was known as "Aunt 
Nomie," stood a few feet north of the present dwelling 
of John Henry Cockefair, 741 Broad Street. A de- 
pression in the ground shows where the cellar was ex- 
cavated. The oldest Cockefair house now standing is 
ihe rear portion of 901 Broad Street. It belonged to 
the John Cockefair side of the family, and the date of 



174 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

its erection is not known. On one side the pitch of the 
roof has been changed in recent years to increase the 
head room of the attic. The larger portion of the 
house, facing Broad Street, was built by John Cocke- 
fair in 1817. This John was a son of Thomas Cocke- 
fair and Mary Hendershott, not the John who married 
Naomi. The road of Colonial days is supposed to have 
been on the opposite side of this house from the present 
Broad Street. 

The Speer Family 

Hendrick Jansen Spier emigrated from Amsterdam 
to America with his wife Madeline Hanse and two chil- 
dren, on the Dutch West India ship "Faith," arriving 
at New Amsterdam in December, 1659. 

February 14, 1660, he bought a lot in New Amster- 
dam from Pieter Pieterse Menist. It was on the west 
side of Broad Street, about 300 feet north of Stone 
Street. In the spring of 1668 he removed to Bergen, 
buying of Jan Lubbertsen a tract of twenty-five morgen 
(fifty acres) near Communipaw. Governor Carteret 
confirmed the possession of this land to Spier by a pat- 
ent of May 12, 1668. This property remained in the 
family till May 1, 1768. He died prior to 1680, and 
his widow married, December 16, 1681, Aertsen Van der 
Bilt, she being his third wife. 

Hendrick Jansen Spier had three sens, the eldest, 
John Hendrick Spier, who was one of the company of 
fourteen who obtained the Acquackanonk patent ; sec- 
ond, Barent Hendrick Spier, who remained at Com- 
munipaw ; and third, Hans Hendrick Spier, who settled 
at Second River, and it was his son Hendrick, baptized 
October 5, 1685, who was, as far as we know, the first 
Dutch child born there. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 175 

John Hendrick Spier of Acquackanonk received, 
among other grants, a farm of two hundred acres on 
the Passaic River between Passaic and Delawanna, 
where he built a house of stone. He was married to 
Maria Franse at Bergen, August 12, 1679. The date 
of the first settlement at Acquackanonk can be closely 
approximated from the following facts. Franz, the 
second son of John Hendrick, was baptized April 2, 
1683, and when he was married to Diercktie Corneliese 
at Hackensack March, 1705, it was recorded that both 
he and she were bom at Acquackanonk. Like his cousin 
at Second River, Franz Spier may have been the first 
white child born in Acquackanonk. John Hendrick 
Spier's will was dated October 22, 1722, and proved 
September 18, 1724. A copy was obtained from Tren- 
ton, but it is too long to be inserted here. After pro- 
viding for his wife, sons and daughters in the matter 
of real and personal estate, he seems greatly concerned 
about the brewing kettle; he says, "as for the Brew 
cettle and other yousful necessarys belonging to bruing 
it shall remain where it is for the aforesaid France and 
Jacob, but if any of the aforesaid children have a mind 
to brue in the said cettle they shall have the use thereof 
anything contrary to the true intent and meaning 
hereof notwithstanding." 

A wife, three sons and seven daughters survived him, 
the sons were: Hendrick, Frans and Jacob. Jacob 
Spier married Lea Coejeman, December 5, 1746, and 
had three sons and three daughters. One of these sons, 
Hendrick, bom in 1750, married Jannetje Van Giesen 
and had a daughter Elizabeth who married Starr 
Parsons. 

Johannis Spier, a grandson of Hans Hendrick Spier, 



176 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

the early settler at Second River, lived on the River 
road at Belleville. During the Revolution a man be- 
lieved to be a British spy appeared on the opposite side 
of the Passaic River and called to be ferried across. 
Johannis refused, then taking his tinisty flint-lock mus- 
ket he climbed the steeple of the Dutch Church. From 
there he shot the man dead. A watch taken from his 
body is still in the possession of the family in Belle- 
ville. The distance from the old church to the opposite 
bank of the river scales on the map over two hundred 
yards. 

Passaic County was organized by an Act of February 
7, 1837. Before that time Acquackanonk was part of 
Essex County. Where the county line crosses East 
Passaic Avenue there is a boundary stone marked as 
follows : 

(South:) (East:) (North:) 

E. C. 1837 P. C. 

Com. J. R. Speer C. G. Van Riper 

P. Speer Surv. P. G. Speer 

A. V. Speer 

Surely C. G. Van Riper's wife or mother must have 
been a Speer or he would not have been admitted to this 
family party. 

The Garrabrant Family 

The first Garrabrants at Stone House Plains were 
two brothers, Garrabrant Garrabrant and Tennis Garra- 
brant. They were sons of Cornelius Garrabrant, and 
grandsons of Gerbrandt Cleasen and his wife Marritje 
Claes, who lived at Communipaw. His wife was a 
daughter of Claes Pietersen Coes. Gerbrandt Cleasen 
signed his will March 16, 1696-7, and it was proved 
April 22, 1708. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 177 

Garrabrant Garrabrant was bom September 10, 1723, 
and married Catrina Pier ; Teunis Garrabrant was born 
April 8, 1726, and died May 15, 1760 ; they had other 
brothers and sisters. 

Garrabrant Garrabrant and Catrina Pier had three 
children: Garrabrant, born March 21, 1755; Jannetje, 
born March 1, 1760; and Cornehus, born February 18, 
1765. 

Abraham Garrabrant of a later generation, who mar- 
ried Elinor Kingsland, came into possession of a part 
of the Abraham Van Giesen estate, including the house 
with the cornerstone marked A. V. G. He died in 1805. 
The present investigation has brought to light a map 
of his property. 

The Sigler Family 

The first of the Siglers whose name has appeared in 
the present research was Daniel Sigler who lived at 
Second River, but who moved to Somerset County some 
time before his death in 1754. Mr. Davidson has a 
certified copy of his will written in the quaint old way 
on parchment. Among his personal effects his High 
Dutch Books were left to his daughter Catherine Hoff- 
man. Was she able to read them? 

He owned thirty acres of woodland on the Third 
River (the present poorhouse farm and the farm south 
of it) which he left to his son Henry. Henry Sigler 
settled on his inheritance and his home faced the stream. 
This house was torn down about the time that the pres- 
ent poorhouse was built. To his younger son, James, 
Daniel Sigler willed the homestead at Second River. 

Thomas Sigler, another son of Daniel, was probably 
the first of the family to live at Stone House Plains. 



178 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

There is extant an old book showing that he was a 
farmer and had had an account against John Cocke- 
fair in August, I860, for "rie," "weet," turnips, oats, 
carting, etc. Lewis Cockefair remembers a stone house 
on Broad street, at the corner of Watchung Avenue, 
that had the date 1741 over the door, and it was known 
as the Sigler house. 

There is a stone in the foundation of the house now 
on the site of the Sigler house marked with a heart, the 
letters C. F. I. and 1774. The letters stand for Chris- 
topher and Frouchey Interest. This stone has been in 
its present position but a few years. There is some 
difference of opinion as to the original location of these 
stones bearing the dates 1741 and 1774. There is a 
memorandum in an old book which says "Elizabeth In- 
terest was bom Sept. 2nd, 1774." She has been gone 
these many years, but the stone with the heart and the 
date are still to be seen. She married Moses Sigler (a 
son of Thomas who bought the confiscated homestead 
of Abraham Van Giesen) and they had eleven children. 

An old bill of sale recalls Elizabeth Interest. Moses 
Sigler, her husband, having died in 1825, she was called 
"Widow Betsy Sigler." In September, 1830, the Widow 
Betsy sold to Jabez Cook her slave woman Zilpha. The 
interesting feature of the sale is that the slave had run 
away, and part of the purchase money was contingent 
upon her being found within ninety days. 

After the battle of Long Island, August, 1776, Wash- 
ington retreated slowly and crossed the Passaic River 
at Acquackanonk, coming from Hackensack. This was 
November 21st, and on the 23d he was in Newark. His 
army was reduced to about 3.500 men. Probably most 
of the men marched to Newark bv the river road, but 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 179 

some of them came through Stone House Plains. The 
officers halted and stayed a short time at the stone house 
by the Oak Tree, the Sigler house. 

In 1780 William Heme, Quartermaster, gave Chris- 
topher Interest a receipt for two bushels of Indian corn 
for the use of the 1st Brigade of Infantry, Commanded 
by General Hand. The fact that this receipt is still 
preserved indicates that Christopher was never paid for 
the Indian corn. 

The Cueman Family 

The Coejeman, or Cueman, family was in Brookdale 
at an early date. The will of Lukas Cowman of New- 
ark, dated August 7, 1712, and proved February 12, 
1717-8, mentions, wife Ariantie; children Jacob, Jo- 
hannis ; Mary, wife of Cornelius Tomason ; Yonitie, 
wife of Gidion van Winkle ; five children of daughter 
Geartie, deceased; also real and personal property. 

There is also a record of the sale of forty acres of 
upland on the plain beyond Mill River by Hance Alberts 
to Hendrick, Jacob and Johannis Cueman, November 
18, 1699. This may not have been the first land in 
Brookdale purchased by the Cueman family, and it is 
possible that Luke Cueman built the old stone house, 
and that it passed to the Van Wagoners through his 
daughter Yonitie (Jannitie) who married Gidion 
Symese van Winkle March 13, 1708. The marriage 
record at Hackensack says that Jannetie was bom at 
Albany. 

The Cueman farm of recent years adjoined the farm 
on which the old stone house stands. 



AN AFTERNOON WALK 

By Maud Parsons 

As ONE strolls northward through Brookdale from 
the end of the trolley the first place of historic interest 
is the hill to the west. In 1856 this was the site of the 
Methodist Church that was later united with the Park 
Methodist Church. 

To the east is the bed of what was once the Morris 
pond. This is now covered with a growth of under- 
brush where the first blue-birds and robins come in the 
spring, and where red-winged blackbirds are seen in 
great numbers in September. Mention of the pond 
brings to mind the old Morris mill which stood at the 
southwest corner of Bay Lane and Morris Place for 
nearly two hundred years, having been built in 1702. 
That site was where the mechanical parts for the Morris 
Canal were made by Ira Dodcl and Caleb D. Baldwin, 
and was a scene of great activity about 1830. 

In speaking of the canal, while it never has been of 
great use in the economic advancement of the little com- 
munity, it has afforded the j^oung people much pleasure. 
What boy who has ever lived in Brookdale will soon for- 
get the good swimming at the "Rock".? And who can 
say that the existence of the canal is not justified by 
the good times it has brought to those — and they have 
been many — who have whizzed along on its glassy sur- 
face in winter? And as for canoeing, only the pen of 
a Stevenson could describe its charm. 

But to come back to Broad Street and the bend in 
the road, from which place we can view one of the 

180 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 181 

prettiest bits of landscape in North Jersey — an inter- 
esting landscape, as well. In the field to the right, not 
far from the stream, there used to be a large boulder 
which was the starting point for the surveys of the 
various farms in Stone House Plains. This was blasted 
out some few years ago by Henry Lindenmeyer. Then 
there is the brook beyond, a famous trout stream (so 
we judge from the number of fishermen seen along its 
banks on the first of April). But the most welcome 
sight, if the day be hot, is the row of tall maples front- 
ing the Lindenmeyer estate. A few years back there 
was a similar row on the other side of the road, but these 
were cut down when the road was widened, probably to 
accommodate the long-hoped-for trolley extension. If 
you are a lover of birds, before going farther look into 
the evergreens on the side of the hill for blue jays, for 
that is their rendezvous ; and in the woods across the 
pond you may see a kingfisher. Or if the fragrant 
julep is your idea of refreshment, lean over the fence 
for a bit of the fresh scented mint that grows around the 
spring. 

If you are interested in golf, the new links of the 
Country Club will probably prove so attractive that 
you will wish to go no farther. 

If not, the next spot of interest is the old cemetery 
which has been neglected for many years, and offers an 
excellent opportunity for some improvement society to 
do good work. Myrtle has grown wild there, and covers 
the ground in alm.ost a solid mass. At the expense of 
very little time and trouble this could be made a spot 
truly delightful to the eye. The sandstone headstones 
with their quaint legends, and old-fashioned long s's, 
are exti'emely interesting and well worth preserving. 



182 BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 

One bears the date of 1788, while there are two dates 
1804 and one 1808. 

On the lot in front of this graveyard stood the old- 
est known schoolhouse in Stone House Plains, and Starr 
Parsons, who came from Redding, Connecticut, is 
thought to have been the first schoolmaster. This school 
was burned in December, 1835. A new school was not 
built until twelve years later, and in 1857 the new school 
was replaced by what is now the old Brookdale school. 

Before the Brookdale school system was incorporated 
with that of Bloomfield, this little red brick building 
was a typical country school where there were pieces 
to speak and spelling matches on Friday afternoons. 
And those democratic old double seats were a real joy 
in more ways than one. For instance, every day the 
teacher would write twenty words on the board for that 
day's spelling lesson. You would learn the first ten, 
your seat mate the last, and by combining your efforts 
each have a perfect paper. This in a spirit, not of 
dishonesty, but of mutual helpfulness and economy — 
call it conservation of energy, if you will. 

In the winter, when skating was good, the great 
majority of the pupils spent the noon hour on the 
canal. They were too far away to hear the sound of 
the bell, which was of the ordinary dinner variety ; so 
when tardiness became too prevalent a compromise was 
hit upon whereby the teacher was to hang out a red 
shawl at ten minutes of one. What good games of 
"shinney" and bantry and "snap-the-whip" did that old 
shawl end. 

In the house beyond the school, at present occupied 
by Bloomfield Howland, lived Simeon Brown, a man 
who was evidently very proud of his fine handwriting. 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 183 

The Rev. Joseph F. Folsom of Newark picked up an 
old book in a local bookstore one day last year. It was 
"A Treatise on the Jurisdiction and Proceedings of 
Justices of the Peace in Civil Suits in New Jersey" 
(Simeon, by the way, was Justice of the Peace), printed 
in Burlington in 1813. These were the stanzas he found 
in the book, both written out "plain" and "neat" : 

This is my Book, as you may Know, 
By Letters Plain I will it Show: 
The first is S., a Letter Bright, 
The next is B., in all men's Sight: 
And if you chance to read amiss, 
Look under neat and there it is. 

Simeon Beown. 
December 9, 1816. 

Simeon Brown is my Name, 
Stone House Plains is my station, 
Heaven is my Dwelling Place, 
And Christ is my salvation; 
When I am Dead and in my Grave, 
And all my Bones are Rotten, 
This you may see to Remember me. 
That I am not Forgotten. 

December 9, 1816. i 



BOARD OF TRADE CENTENNIAL RESOLUTION 

At the last meeting of the executive committee of the Board 
of Trade a sub-committee was appointed to obtain information 
concerning the setting off of the township of Bloomfield from 
the township of Newark in 1819, witli instructions to report to 
the executive committee at this meeting. In accordance with those 
instructions the committee submits the following report: 

Newark was settled by some thirty families of Puritans who 
came from Connecticut in May, 1666. The arrangements for the 
settlement were made with the representative of the Lord Pro- 
prietors of New Jersey, Lord John Berkely and Sir George 
Carteret, to whom the province had been granted by James, Duke 
of York. After some trouble with the Indians a purchase was 
made from them which included the territory afterward known 
as Bloomfield, and this latter territory was gradually settled by 
farmers from the Newark settlement and by the Dutch who came 
in from Bergen County on the northeast. 

For one hundred and forty years there were no subdivisions of 
Newark, but in 1806 three wards were established known as the 
Newark Ward, Orange Ward and Bloomfield Ward. This division 
determined the southern boundary of Bloomfield. 

On January 24, 1812, the Council and General Assembly of 
New Jersey passed an act setting off a new township from the 
township of Newark and incorporated it by tlie name of "The 
Inhabitants of the township of Bloomfield in the county of 
Essex." The act provided, however, that it should not be in force 
until the fourth Monday of March (March 23), 1812. That day, 
therefore, was the beginning of Bloomfield as a municipality, and 
three weeks later the first town meeting was held at the house of 
Isaac Ward. Unfortunately, all records of the early meetings of 
the township have been lost, the only old record in the office of 
tlie town clerk being a cash book which was "started in 1812. A 
copy of the act setting off Bloomfield from Newark is annexed 
to this report. 

The area of the original township of Bloomfield was about 
twenty and a half square miles, and it was bounded on the north 
by the Passaic County line; on the east by the Passaic River; 
on the south by the townships of Newark and Orange, and on the 
west by the crest of First Mountain. This district included the 
present municipalities of Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair, 
Nutley and Belleville, and a part of what is now the Forest Hill 
and Woodside section of Newark. In 1820 this territory had a 
population of 3,085. 

184 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 185 

Although Bloomfield had no separate existence until 1812, the 
name had been adopted some years earlier. The Presbyterian 
Church was started in 1794, and in 1796 the congregation wor- 
shiping in the Joseph Davis house on Franklin Street, adopted 
the name of Bloomfield for their community, and for the church 
which was organized in that year. When the edifice at the head 
of the Green was erected, a tablet with the inscription "Bloom- 
field 1796" was placed in the tower. 

The name was taken in honor of General Joseph Bloomfield, 
who was a distinguished citizen of New Jersey. General Bloom- 
field had served in the War of the Revolution as a captain, and 
afterward major of New Jersey regulars from 1775 to 1778. 
From 1783 to 1788 he was Attorney-General of New Jersey, and 
in 1794 was a brigadier-general of New Jersey militia, command- 
ing troops during the "Whiskey Rebellion." From 1801 to 1803 
and 1803 to 1812, he was Governor of New Jersey, and ex-officio 
Chancellor of the State. Governor Bloomfield relinquished his 
ofiice on March 27, 1812, four days after the township of Bloom- 
field was formed, to become a brigadier-general of regulars in 
the United States Army, commanding the third military district 
with headquarters at New York City. After the War of 1812 
was over he rounded out his career as a representative from New 
Jersey in the Congress of the United States. It is evident that 
when the members of the old First Church were choosing a name 
for their community in 1796, they settled upon a man whose later 
achievements fully confirmed their estimate of him. Bloomfield 
may well be proud of its name. 

This committee believes that Bloomfield's centennial should be 
celebrated next year in a suitable manner, and that such a cele- 
bration will be of great benefit to the town. The Board of 
Trade is unquestionably the proper body to undertake this work, 
and the committee recommends that steps be taken in the near 
future to bring the matter to the attention of the Board of 
Trade and the people of Bloomfield with tliis end in view. 

Randolph C. Barrett, Chairman. 
Howard B. Davis. 
William Bigoaet. 

Bloomfield, N. J., May 4, 1911. 



ACT OF INCORPORATION IN 1812 

An Act to set off axd ebect a new township from the town- 
ship OF Newark, in the county of Essex. 

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the council and general assembly of 
this State, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, 
That all the district of the township of Newark in the county of 
Essex, included within the following limits, viz.: Beginning at the 
Green island in Passaic River near that part of the road leading 
from Newark to BelleviUe called the gully, and from thence 
running westerly to the northeast corner of the township of 
Orange at the great boiling spring, thence along the line of the 
township of Orange to Turkey-Eagle rock on the top of the first 
mountain, thence northerly along the said Orange line on the top 
of said mountain to the corner of the township of Caldwell, 
thence along the Caldwell line on the top of said mountain to the 
line of the township of Acquacknonk, thence southeasterly along 
the said Acquacknonk line to Passaic River, thence southerly 
along said Passaic River to the beginning, be, and the same is 
hereby set off from the said township of Newark, and erected 
into a separate township, to be known by the name of the town- 
ship of Bloomfield. 

2. And be it enacted, That the inhabitants of said town- 
ship of Bloomfield shall be and they are hereby vested with and 
entitled to all the powers, privileges and authorities, and shall be 
and are hereby made subject to the like regulations and govern- 
ment which the inhabitants of other townships in this State are 
subject and entitled to, and that the inhabitants of the township 
of Bloomfield shall be and they are hereby incorporated, styled 
and known by the name of "The inhabitants of the township of 
Bloomfield in the county of Essex," and entitled to all the privi- 
leges, authorities and advantages that the other townships in the 
said county are entitled to by virtue of an act entitled "An act 
incorporating the inhabitants of townships, designating their 
powers and regulating their meetings," passed the twenty-first 
day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- 
dred and ninety-eight. Provided, that this act shall not be in force 
until the fourth Monday of March next. 

3. And be it enacted, That the inhabitants of the said town- 
ship of Bloomfield shall hold their first town-meeting at the 
house where Isaac Ward now dwells, on the day appointed by 
law for holding the annual town-meetings in the other townships 
in the county of Essex. 

186 



BLOOMFIELD, OLD AND NEW 187 

4. And be it enacted, That every person becoming charge- 
able as a pauper after the first day of November, eighteen hun- 
dred and eleven, shall be supported after the fourth Monday of 
March next by the township within the limits of which he or she 
may have gained his or her last residence, and that the township 
committees of Newark and Bloomfield shall meet on the Monday 
next after the town-meetings in said townships, at the house of 
Moses Roff in the town of Newark, at ten o'clock in the fore- 
noon, and then and there proceed to make an allotment between 
the said townships of such poor persons as shall have been charge- 
able on the first day of November aforesaid, in proportion to the 
taxable property and ratables as taxed by the assessor within 
their respective limits, to be ascertained by the duplicate of the 
present year, and that said township of Bloomfield shall be en- 
titled to receive from the township of Newark their proportion 
of all moneys on hand or due, arising from taxes, and also one 
hundred and forty-two dollars and eighty-five cents, the propor- 
tion of money expended in defending the town lands, and shall 
be liable to pay their proportion of the debts if any there should 
be at the time, and if either of the above mentioned committees 
or parts of said committees shall neglect or refuse to meet as 
aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful for such members of the 
said committees as do meet to proceed to such allotment of poor, 
the distribution of property and debts, which shall be conclusive 
and final. 

A. Passed at Trenton, January 24, 1812. 

(Act of 1813, 36th Ses. 3d Sit., p. 62.) 

Note. — The fourth Monday in March, 1812, was March 23d. 



Town meetings in the various townships of Essex County were 
held on the second Monday in April in each year. (Act of 1798, 
22d Ses., 2d Sit., p. 289, Sec. 3.) 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY 

June 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1912 



Executive Committee of Board of Trade 



Hon. Amzi Dodd, 

Honorary Chairman. 
Frederick M. Davis, 

Chairman. 
Eugene L. R. Cadmus, 

Secretary. 
Howard B. Davis, 

Treasurer. 
Matthew McCrodden, 
Allison Dodd, 
Randolph C. Barrett, 
David G. Garabrant, 
Theodore H. Ward, 
Henry Albinson, 
Benjamin Haskell, 
William A. Baldwin, 
Charles Fer2;uson, 
William P. Sutphen, 



Lewis B. Harrison, 
Mayor William Hauser, 
David Oakes, 
Alfred H. Edgerley, 
Edward J. Hughes, 
George Morris, 
Charles A. Hungerford, 
Herbert C. Farrand, 
George Hummel, 
Charles J. INIurray, 
William Biggart, 
William H. Hays, 
Frank N. Unangst, 
Frederick Sadler, 
Walter Ellor, 
Harry L. Osborne, 
Theodore E. Jones. 



On Saturday evening, March 23, 1912, was held the first popular 
meeting of the centennial celebration. The citizens gathered at 
the Old First Church, and the following programme, arranged by 
the committee on public meetings, was carried out: 

Organ prelude, Miss Laura P. Ward; Invocation, Rev. George 
L. Curtis, D.D.; Singing by the High School Glee Club, led by 
P. J. Smith; Introductory remarks, the Mayor, Hon. William 
Hauser; Reading of the 1812 Act of Incorporation, Frederick 
M. Davis; Address, Hon. John Franklin Fort, -former Governor 
of New Jersey. 



188 



SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE CENTENNIAL 
CELEBRATION 

BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY 
June 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1912 

Finance Committee: Matthew McCrodden, Chairman, Allison 
Dodd, Harry L. Osborne, Arthur Russell, Secretary, James 
W. Crisp, Jr., F. J. Dahl, Albert W. Fish, Frank Foster, 
Charles H. Madole, Howard B. Davis. 

Invitation and Reception: Randolph C. Barrett, Chairman, David 
G. Garabrant, Theodore H. Ward, Henry Albinson, Alfred 
B. Van Liew, Frank A. Stone, Secretary. 

Historical: Benjamin Haskell, Chairman, William A. Baldwin, 
Secretary, Charles C. Ferguson, Rev. George L. Curtis, D.D., 
Rev. Joseph F. Folsom, William P. Sutphen, Raymond F. 
Davis. 

Public Meeting (Tuesday, June 11th) and Historical Exhibit: 
William P. Sutphen, Chairman, Lewis B. Harrison, F. R. 
Hinkle, George Kerr, James E. Brooks, Secretary. 

Industrial: Mayor Hauser, Chairman, David Oakes, Alfred H. 
Edgerley, Peter H. Fowler, R. H. Henderson, E. D. Farmer, 
Ralph Thompson, John M. Hague, Secretary. 

Parade and Decoration: Ed. J. Hughes, Chairman, Eugene L. R. 
Cadmus, Secretary, Timothy P. Edwards, R. R. Johnson, 
J. R. Richardson, B. F. Higgins. 

Educational (including school children parade) : George Morris, 
Chairman, Charles A. Hungerford, Miss Jessie Colfax, Secre- 
tary, William S. S. Rowland. Sixty names added January 
12th on file. 

Banquet: Charles A. Hungerford, Honorary Chairman; Harry 
L. Osborne, Active Chairman, James W. Crisp, Jr., Secretary. 

Music: Herbert C. Farrand, Chairman, George Hummel, Charles 
W. Martin, David P. Lyall, William J. Maier. 

Fireworks: Charles J. Murray, Chairman, William Biggart, Sec- 
retary, Frank De Moyne, Joseph E. Garabrant, E. Thornton 
Rice. 

Press Committee: William H. Hays, Frank N. Unangst. 

Printing, Souvenir Programme and Badges: Frederick Sadler, 
Chairman, Walter EUor, Howard B. Davis, Henry Albinson, 
Frank L. Fischer, Charies W. Havens, Frank B. Daley, 
Graham M. Johnstone, Raymond F. Davis. 

Monument: David G. Garabrant, Chairman, William P. Sutphen, 
Theodore H. Ward, Charles A. Hungerford. 

Folk Dances: Theodore H. Ward, Chairman, William S. Cannon, 
Secretary, Dr. H. E. Richards, Mrs. Elmer C. Robaud, Mrs. 
E. W. Baldwin, Mrs. H, R. Underwood, Mrs. A. B, Van Liew. 

189 



INDEX 



Academy, Bloomfleld, 14, 82. 
Acquackanonk, 162, 163, 164, 169, 

176, 186. 
After the Revolution, 43. 
An Afternoon Walk, 180. 
Archdeacon's Hotel, 149. 
Armstrong, Amzi, 81. 

Baechlin, Ernest, 160. 
Baldwin, Caleb, 30. 
Baldwin Familv, 15, 16. 
Baldwin, Warren S., 16, 90, 92, 

109. 146. 
Baldwin. William A., 7, 78, 92. 
Ball Familv. 23. 
Ball, Mark'W., 10, 38. 
Ballentine. Henry W., Rev., 120. 
Band, brass, first, 63. 
Baptist Church. First, 8. 124. 

Barrett. Randolph C, 185. 189. 
Belleville. 70. 141. 142, 166, 176. 
Bergen Exploit, 37. 
Berkeley School, 96. 
Bibliography. Bloomfleld, 8, 9. 

Biggart. William, 185. 
Black. Joseph, mill, 31. 
Bloomfleld, General Joseph, 45, 54, 

119. 186. 
Bloomfleld Savings Inst., 146. 
Bloomfleld Township. 69. 70. 
Board of Trade, 7. 153-155. 

Boundaries of Newark, 11, 69, 
185, 187. 

Bradburv, William B., 93. 

Brady's Mill, 2, 31. 

Brewing kettle. 175. 

"Brick pits." 53. 

British Armv, 170, 172. 

British raids, 32. 172. 

Broad Street. 172, 173, 174. 

Brokaw. Joshua C, 80, 109. 

Bromlev. Durv. 31. 

Brookdale. 163. 

Brookdale Baptist Church, 135. 

Brookdale Reformed Church, 122, 
168. 169. 

Brookdale schools. 85, 86, 169, 
1S2. 

Brooks. James E.. 162. 

Broughton. John G.. 121. 

Broughton Memorial, 121. 

Brown. Simeon. 182. 

Burying ground, 53. 

Cadmus, Eugene L. R., 188. 
Cadmus Family, 24. 



Cadmus house, 25, 40. 

Caldwell church, 52, 53. 

Canal boats, 106. 

Cannon, brass, 50, 51. 

Canon, iron, 52. 

Capen, John F., 10. 

Captahen, 164. 

Carteret, Sir George, 184. 

Carteret, Philip, Governor, 28. 

Catholic Lyceum, 134. 

Cemetery. 53. 

Central School. 80, 86, 87, 92. 

Chancellor, William E., 9. 

Chapman, Jedidiah. Rev., 41. 81. 

Christ Episcopal Church, 127. 

Church bell, 14. 

Church manuals, 9. 

Church of the Ascension. 137. 

Churches of Bloomfleld. 118. 

"Citizen." Bloomfleld, 9 

Civil War, 64. 

Civil War Veterans, 66. 

Cockefair Familv, 166. 171. 174. 

Cockefair, Lewis, 9, 170. 178 

Collins. Thomas, 42, 51, 63. 

Combination Rubber Mfg. Co., 145. 

Consolidated Safetv Pin Co., 144. 

Cooke, Harriet B., 82, 83. 

Cooke. Robert L., 62, 82. 

Copper mines, 26. 27. 

Crab Orchard, 44. 

Crane Family, 14. 

Crane, Israel. 15, 55. 103. 

Crane. I. W.. letter, 45. 

Crane. Jasper, mill. 31. 

Cueman Familv. 179. 

Curtis, George" L., 7, 118. 

Davis. Charles M., 84, 91. 
Davis Familv, 18, 19, 88. 
Davis, Fredk. M.. 71. 188. 
Davis. Howard B.. 185. 188, 189. 
Davis. Joseph, house. 18, 39, 47, 

186. 
Davis, Dr. J. A.. 19, 37. 109. 
Davis. Raymond F., 7, 69. 
Deed for Green, 55. 
Diamond Mills Paper Co., 145. 
Dodd. Allison. 147. 158. 
Dodd. Amzi. 9. 18. 46, 110. 
Dodd. Daniel. 17. 167. 
Dodd. Daniel. "1719 House," 17. 
"Dominie. The." poem, 53. 
Dodd Family. 17. 
Dodd. Ira. 16. 110. 180. 
Dodd. John, General, 18. 103. 



INDEX 



Dodd, Stephen. Rev., 8, 81. 
Docid, Zophar B., 62, 145. 
Duffield, Samuel W., 158. 
Dunbar, John B., 95. 
Dutch families, 26. 
Dutch names, 165. 
Dutch Reformed ministers, 122, 
123. 

Eagle Rock. 187. 

Elm trees, 62. 

Episcopal ministers, 127, 128, 137, 

138. 
Empire Cream Separator Co., 145. 
Essex County B. and L. Ass'n, 

148. 
Eucleian Society, 46, 152. 
Executive Committee, 188. 

Farrand house, 40. 
Farrand, Herbert C, 189. 
Farrand, Moses, 30, 40. 
Female Seminary, 83. 
Ferguson, Charles C, 7, 101. 
Fire Department, 74, 75, 149. 
First Baptist Church, 8, 124. 
First Mountain, 28. 
First Presbyterian Church, 46-53, 

54, 118. 
Folsom. Joseph F.. 7, 11, 32, 43. 
Ford, .John. Rev., 82. 
Fordham, Stephen. 52. 
Fort, John Franklin, Hon., 188. 
Franklin (Watsesson) Hill, 39. 
Franklin incorporated, 72. 
Franklin school-house, 78, 81. 
Franklin stove, 85. 
Fraternities. 152. 
Frazer, D. R., Rev., 139 
Free schools, 84, 88, 89. 

Garabrant, David G. S., 8, 189. 
Garabrant Family, 176, 177. 
Garret, Garretson, 165. 
Gas lighting. 75. 
Graveyard, Brookdale, 181. 
German Presbyterian church, 125. 
German Theological Seminary, 82, 

i.^n. 

Gibb. James, 58, 62. 
Gildersleeve, Cyrus. Rev.. 50. 61. 
Glen Ridge Congregational Church, 

135. 
Glen Ridge Incorporated, 72. 
Glenwood Avenue station, 110, 

158. 
Green, Jacob. Rev., 49. 
Green. The, 8, 20, 54. 
Greenwood Lake Railroad, 111, 

143. 
Grist mills. 141. 
Grover, Joseph, Rev., 49. 
Gwinn, William, mill, 30. 

Hall. Eliphalet. 57, 62. 
Harrison, Caleb, well, 31. 



Harrison, George, mill, 30. 
Hartman, Michaelsen, 164. 
Haskell, Benjamin, 7, 23. 
Ilauser. William, Mavor, 77, 188. 
Hays. William H., 189 
Hendershott, Mary and Naomie, 

173. 
High School, 93-95, 98. 
Historical Committee, 7. 
Hulin, Stephen M., 8. 
Home Lots, Newark, 11, 12. 
Hooglandt, Christopher, 164. 
Hope Chapel, 121. 
Horse car railroads, 112. 
Horse Neck. 28, 170. 
Hoyt's "Orange Church." 37. 
Hughes, Edward J., 189. 
Hungerford, Charles A., 189. 

Incorporation Act, 69, 186. 
Indians, New Jersey, 12, 27, 28, 

2i». 102, 164. 
Indian trail, 15. 
Inhabitants of 1796, 43. 
Inhabitants of 1830, 61. 
Interest, Christopher, 178. 

•Tackson. Abel, Rev.. 48, 49. 
.Tarvie, James N., 130, 147, 153. 
Jarvie Memorial Library, 130, 153. 
Jones, Charles G., 98. 

Kettle, historic, 46. 

Kidney, Captain John, 37. 

King, Aury, 53, 54. 

King. Mrs. .John, 34. 

Kinsey, Charles, 57. 

Kocher, C. F., 160. 

Knox, Charles E., Rev., 8, 9, 19. 

Lackawanna Railroad, 158, 159. 

I>awrence. ,Tohn. 172. 

Lecture room, 120. 

Lewis. Amzi, Rev., 49, 81, 82. 

Lindenmeycr, Henry, 181. 

Lodges, 152. 

Lutheran Church, 136. 

McCrodden, Matthew, 189. 

McCullough, George, 105. 

McMichael. Captain. 38. 

Madrigal Society, -153. 

Mammoth bones, 57. 

Mnjis of the village, 43, 61. 

Aleade, J. K.. 57. 

Merchant. Silas. 85. 

Methodist Episcopal ministers, 

123, 124. 132. 
Mills of Bloomfield, 16, 140, 141. 
Ministers. Presbyterian, 119, 126, 

129. 1.30. 
Montclnir incorporated, 72. 
Montclair, 14. 72. 
Montsomery Chapel, 131. 
Moiris and Essex Railroad, 108, 

158. 



INDEX 



Morris Canal, 16, 104, 141. 

Morris County Associate Presby- 
tery, 48, 52. 

Morris deed, 22. 

Morris, Ephraim, 47, 60, 105, 119, 
163. 

Morris Family, 21. 23. 

Morris, George, 189. 

Morris mill, 25. 140, 180. 

Morris Neighborhood, 15, 16, 80, 
140. 

Murray, Charles J., 189. 

Names of Bloomfield localities, 44, 

69, 70. 163. 
Naming Bloomfield, 44. 
Nardiello. .Joseph M., Rev., 133. 
Nelson, William. 9, 35. 166. 
Newark and Bloomfield R. R., 109, 

142. 
Newark settlers, 13, 133, 140. 
New Jersey Volunteers, 64. 
Newtown road, 33, 37. 

Oakes, David, 109. 

Oakes, John. 10, 54. 

Oakes ISIill. 143. 

Oakes, Thomas, 31, 51. 

Oakes. Thomas, vSecond. 91, 92. 

Oak Tree Lane. 172. 179. 

Occupations of Inhabitants, 61. 

Ogden, Captain John, 19, 80. 

Old Road, Bloomfield, 15, 43, 102. 

Orange and Bloomfield horse cars, 

113. 
Orange incorporated, 69. 
Organization of First Church, 47. 
Osborne, Harry L., 189. 

Park Methodist Episcopal Church, 

123. 180. 
Park System. 157. 
Parochial school. 95. 
Parsons, Starr, 85, 182. 
Parsons, Maud, 180. 
Parsons, William, 173. 
Paterson, 164. 
Peeletown, 143. 

Perine, H. M.. Rev., 82, also map. 
Peters, William K., 20. 
Piano, first. 63. 
Pier. Tunis Jansen, 166. 167. 
Pilch, Frederick R., 91, 92. 
Plum. Samuel. 167. 
Poor House, 177. 
Presbyterian ministers, 49, 119, 

126", ]29, 130. 
Presbytery of New York. 47. 
Public Records Commission, 35. 

Quarries, 25, 54, 114. 

Railroad service. 114. 
Randolph, Hugh F., mill. 29, 30. 
Randolph. .Tacob F., 106. 
Revolutionary Claims, 36. 



Revolutionary Period, 32, 176, 178. 
Revolutionary Veterans, 42. 
Riots, Essex County, 27, 28. 
Roads, 25, 102, 103. 
Roman Catholics, 133, 137. 
Root, J. H., 95. 

Sacred Heart, Church of, 133. 

Sadler, Frederick, 189 

St. John's Evang. Lutheran, 136. 

St. Valentine's R. C. Church, 137. 

School Act of 1849, 84. 

School bell "1776," 79. 

School-house on the Green, 56, 80. 

School principals, 89. 

Schools, 78. 

School trustees, 89, 90. 

Scott and Bowne, 145. 

Scott's Emulsion, 145. 

Second River, 11, 15. 

Sergeant, Isaac. 81. 

Sewer system, 75, 151. 

Seymour, Ebenezer, Rev., 84. 

Sherman. John, 92. 

Sherwood, James E., Rev., 8. 

Seymour, Philander, 81. 

Shields. James, 81. 

Sigler Familv. 177-179. 

Silver Lake Chapel, 124. 

Speer Family. 106. 174-176. 

Spier, John Ilendrick, 174. 

Sprague Elevator Co., 145. 

Stone House. The old. 167. 

Stonehouse Brook, 167, 168. 

Stone House Plain, 84, 85, 122, 

162. 
Stone houses, 25. 
Stryker, Peter. Rev., 122. 
Superstitions. 56. 
Sutphen, William P., 7, 77, 140. 

Third River, 11, 16, 162, 166, 167. 
Thomas. M. D., 81. 
Tonev's Brook. 15. 54. 
Town Act of 1900. 76. 
Town Improvement Ass'n, 161. 
Town officials. 71-74, 77. 
Township of Bloomfield, 69, 70. 
Transportation. 101. 
Trust Company, 147. 
Turnpike. Newark and Pompton, 
101, 103. 

Underwood, Charles R., 158. 
Fnion School, SO. 
Urian, Thomassen, 165. 

Van Blarcom Family, 165. 
Van Dvck's chocolate mill, 30. 
Van Giesen Family, 168. 169-171. 
Van Giesen Purchase, 164. 
Van Houten Familv. 166. 
Van Liew. A. B.. 160. 
Van Riper Family. 165. 
Van Wagener Family. 165. 
Van Wagener, Garret. 168. 



INDEX 



Van Winkle Family, 165, 168. 
Vreeland Family, 165. 

Wakely house, 38. 
Washington in Bloomfleld, 40, 178. 
Ward Family, 20, 167. 
Ward, Jacob, 20-35. 
Ward, Theodore H., 189. 
Ward's Lane, 20, 26. 
Wardsesson, 36, 43, 44. 
Watchung Avenue, 170, 178. 
Water system. 75, 137, 149, 150. 
Watsessing dock, 102. 
Watsessing M. E. Church, 182. 
Watsesson Hill. 15, 47. 



Watsesson Plain, 15, 24, 31, 32. 
Wayne, General, 40. 
Westervelt Family, 165. 
Westinghouse Lamp Co.. 145. 
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 

129. 
White, William H., M.D., 146, 

147. 
Wiggins, H. B., Son Co., 145. 
Wilson, Alexander, 27, 49, 55-60. 
Winne house, 25, 33, 37. 
Witchcraft, 56. 
Woodside incorporated, 72. 

Tantecaw River, 162, 163. 



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